collage entitled “Scarlett Lady”, by: rob kistner © 2008
A tale of terror, a tale of fear
Of a vigilante from beyond the grave
Only justice did this spirit crave
You may choose to doubt my word
But know damned well this all occurred
A vengeful maiden dressed in red
7 men lured, 7 men dead
7 men drawn to this comely miss
7 souls lost to her lethal kiss
A modern legend is Bloody Sue
Her deeds of terror are bold and true
Was she from hell or heaven’s gate
It’s certain her victims earned their fate
The first, the banker, a crooked man
Stole dreams of others with his evil plan
To own the world, to possess the lot
Now all that’s his is a dead man’s plot
Found with coins choked down his throat
Clutched in his hand a bloody note
“You greedy bastards, this could be you
Remember well!”, signed Bloody Sue
The second, the lawyer, a prideful sort
Lied and cheated to win in court
And bragged of his dishonest way
Until violence marked his final day
Found one morning with bashed-in head
A bloody gavel lay on his bed
“Bludgeoned here for his lies and scandal!”
Read Sue’s note, wrapped ’round the handle
The third, the bishop, a man of lust
Molested innocent’s, betrayed their trust
Kept a journal of his lurid deeds
A trophy to all his prurient needs
Found on his pulpit with a bloody lap
His private parts in his bishop’s cap
“Beware vile predators throughout this land!”
Sue had carved in the bishop’s hand
Fourth was the baker, a gluttoness fool
Treated his workers horribly cruel
Paid wages that left an empty plate
While he gorged himself – he ate and ate
One day at the bakery’s opening hour
He was found dead in a vat of flour
Across the vat, bold and big,
In chocolate icing, Sue wrote “pig!”
Then the lazy chief of the town’s police
Unsolved cases filled his valise
Crime and violence everywhere
While he snoozed in his office chair
One day shots rang loud and clear
Sue riddled the chief from ear to ear
“Get another chief, get this damned work done!”
Said the note from Sue, found by the gun
The office gossip, and his jealous way
Spread lies and rumors on the phone all day
His envy the ruin of many good names
Destroying lives with his vicious games
Sue used his phone to strangle him
And left a voice mail dire and grim
“To all who ruin a reputation
You too will die from strangulation!”
Last… the radio talk-show host
Spreading propaganda, coast to coast
Pawn of a racist politician
Thought he was above suspicion
Electrocuted on his live broadcast
Sue dealt justice hard and fast
She was heard to say as hot sparks flew
“Beware you haters, I’ll fry you too!”
So that’s the story of Bloody Sue
Believe it or not, that’s up to you
A brutal beauty in scarlet cape
From her vengeful hands there’s no escape
She will draw from you your final breath
If she marks you with her kiss of death
Some say a ghost who haunts this earth
Others claim an angel, of heavenly birth
But all agree there’s one thing true
If you’re a son-of-a-bitch,
She’ll come for you
Read more wonderful poems at dVerse:
Oh my gosh, this is so funny! I love it!!!
My fave:
“Found on his pulpit with a bloody lap
His private parts in his bishop’s cap”
This must have taken you ages to write. I’m so glad you made it all the way to the end. <3
I have made a couple attempts at this in the past, but with this one I feel it’s complete.
This is beyond brilliant! A myth in its own time.
Beverly, thank you so much for your support and your warming compliments,
Of course I flashed on the movie SEVEN. I, too, wrote an opus, a short story. I certainly enjoyed the adventures of Bloody Sue.
I bow to your creativity and originality.
Thsnk you Glenn I guess we were both feeling verdose today. I will stop by and read.,
Always a good day for a reunion with Bloody Sue. This is marvelous Rob. I imagine it will always be a classic!
Thank you violet it would be marvelous to live as a classic, and .I am so glad you liked it!
Love this, the 7 deadly sins give poets endless inspiration. Great use of the prompt.
Thank you so much L. I felt it was great fodder for long form poetry— and it was a joy to write!!
Thank you, Rob, for an early morning chuckle – and it’s only Wednesday! This is an original retelling of the seven deadly sins. I laughed out loud at the bishop, the man of lust with ‘His private parts in his bishop’s cap’ and the office gossip strangled with his phone (an old-fashioned landline – I don’t know how you can murder anyone with a mobile phone).
You are welcome Kim. And there are a lot of land lines in a police station, and that fucking bishop got his just dessert!
I do Kim, but it would take a Proctologist to remove the murder weapon… 😉
Wow! What a tour de force.
Thank you for your kind words Rosemary!
Such a wonderful retelling of the deadly sins — I breezed through it, with its pertinent rhythm and rhymes giving it such a great flow for a lovely read. 🙂
Thank you Anmol (HA), glad it was a pleasurable read. I envidioned it as a nursery rhyme for big kids. 🙂
Ooh this is masterfully written. I absolutely love your version of Bloody Sue 😀
Thsnk you Sanaa, I am pleased you liked this!
So well-done, Rob. The rhythm and rhyme make it a delight to read–but with a punch and a moral, leaving some to wonder, if Bloody Sue will someday come for me, too!
Glad this resonated for you Merril…! I have been looking over my shoulder ever since I wrote this… 🙂
A proclamation of a dream or a wish, it’s brilliant and emotional for me to read, as a cleansing like this is so needed. I bet it felt liberating to write it. Evil has grown complacent in its positions of power to abuse, neglect, and exploit. Hats off to you, Rob <3
Interesting the insight you express regarding my reaction in writing this. It was most cathartic to write, and I was pleasantly drained when I had finaly finished it. It has evolved over a period, with this bring the 4th revision – but I felt this write worked well. Thank you for your kind words Jade. I am so glad you liked it! 🙂
I really love the this tale of vengeance and the just rewards for men of deadly sins… and of course with a lazy cop she will get free.
Thank you sir, glad you like this. Sue is already free of any earthly constraints, doing the work of the god of justice. We need her right now here in this country Björn!
This is so witty and clever, Rob. The deeds, the death, and Bloody Sue’s remarks – Wonderful!
I appreciate the gracious vompliment Sara!
Love your take on the seven deadly sins.
So glad you do Jane, thank you!
She missed a few people I could name…but perhaps they have too many sins to keep straight!
Great job!
Sue was tracking primarily those notoriously guilty of the “seven deadly sins” of pride, greed, lust, envy (gossip), gluttony, wrath (hate), and sloth (laziness). If she went after every possible type of sin Kerf, she would never keep up. She was creating examples for all the asshats to see.