Shrieks at Midnight: Macabre Poems, Eerie and Humorous

by John E. Brewton (Editor)

A collection of humorous poems about death, doom, ghosts, and other eeried subjects.

Genres: Poetry, Horror

177 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1969

About the author

John Edmund Brewton

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the subtitle promises poems both Eerie and Humorous, I found most of them to be in a comical vein.

Some, while funny, were a bit, shall we say, darker than I would have expected from a book aimed at younger readers.

QUIET FUN

My son Augustus, in the street, one day,
Was feeling quite exceptionally merry.
A stranger asked him: "Can you show me, pray,
The quickest way to Brompton Cemetery?"
"The quickest way? You bet I can!" says Gus,
And pushed the fellow underneath a bus.

Whatever people say about my son,
He does enjoy his little bit of fun.

---Harry Graham

I'm not sure who this Author Unknown guy is, but he has a devilish sense of humor.

LITTLE WILLIE

Little Willie, mad as hell,
Threw his sister down the well.
Mother said, when drawing water,
"It's so hard to raise a daughter."

---Author Unknown


GOLDEN GATES

Little Willie;
Pair of skates;
Hole in the ice;
Golden gates.

---Author Unknown

A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN OF
GREAT GUMPTION

A certain young man of great gumption,
Among cannibals had the presumption
To go --- but alack!
He never came back.
They say 'twas a case of consumption.

--- Author Unknown

Here are two that are as timely now as when they were originally written:

ATOMIC COURTESY

To smash the simple atom
All mankind was intent.
Now any day
The atom may
Return the compliment.

--- Ethel Jacobson

ON A POLITICIAN

Here, richly, with ridiculous display.
The Politician's corpse was laid away.
While all of his acquaintance sneered and slanged,
I wept; for I had longed to see him hanged.

--- Hilaire Belloc

And, finally, this one: schadenfreude, or a cheery observation? You decide.

DONNE REDONE

Ask not for whom the bells toll.
Don't get yourself in a stew.
As long as you can hear the clang,
Relax; they're not for you.

--- Joseph Paul Tierney

I had a good time with this book, and was greatly entertained by the clever verses of yesteryear. Seek it out at yard sales, charity shops, and perhaps, on the shelves at your local library.

[Glenn Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a little extra spooky fun around the Halloween season -- have this adorably & sinisterly amusing book near your reading chair -- or in your pocket.

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up