deepundergroundpoetry.com

Image for the poem A Poem from the Crypt

A Poem from the Crypt

dedicated to the slow death of the Comics Code Authority, established in 1954 as a response to the violent and macabre content of horror comics including Tales from the Crypt

Western comics died back when
the clock read nineteen-fifty-four.
The people called on stately men
to save our children, change the law,
and burn these technicolour coats.

(In years before the audience
had read with eager eyes and hands
of murder, stalking, severance
of dainty blonds on Cali sands
and patriarchs in Central Park.)

The necromancer's catacombs
were raided like a known dope-den,
and suddenly those frail tomes
became victims of Nazi yen.
The crypt keeper was burnt alive.

And so, the form would lie dormant,
like so much art left underground.
The clutch of pearls as enforcement
would let a middling age abound
with Bible stories and "funnies".

The neutered supermen would rise
like Nietzche crossed with Miss Manners.
Apple-cheeked and bobby-soxed, spies
in children's homes, fascist banners
hung above the corner penny racks.

Juvenile delinquency
would peak in nineteen-fifty-three,
but vanish like a treated sore
in light of nineteen-fifty-four.
(Don't mention Fugate, Starkweather,
or God forbid that Manson fella.)

I read the Dandy and Beano,
not knowing that from which I had
been wrenched like babe from bony arms.
But codes cannot keep crypts locked up,
and now the keeper comes to sup.

Up from the ashes of the code
artists have dug a bright geode
of sickly green, shining crystals.
And thus, the crypt's choking thistles
have been weeded.
Written by The_Silly_Sibyl (Jack Thomas)
Published
Author's Note
If you’re interested in the history of horror comics or just want to learn about yet another example of artistic censorship, see here for a documentary on the subject: https://youtu.be/pu6b5ZRAAfQ

The structure of this poem was borrowed from Annus Mirabilis by Philip Larkin, which begins:

“Sexual intercourse began
In nineteen sixty-three
(which was rather late for me) -
Between the end of the "Chatterley" ban
And the Beatles' first LP.”
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 2 reading list entries 0
comments 6 reads 219
Commenting Preference: 
The author encourages honest critique.

Latest Forum Discussions
COMPETITIONS
Today 4:56am by NANCY_RDZ_STORIES
SPEAKEASY
Today 4:15am by Grace
SPEAKEASY
Today 3:33am by DCLXVI_1989
COMPETITIONS
Today 00:41am by Louismatteo349
SPEAKEASY
Yesterday 11:19pm by Ahavati
POETRY
Yesterday 11:05pm by Grace