The Mayor of Danvers

Dr. Seuss, down on the farm...heh, heh, heh

The Mayor of Danvers

Welcome to the place, that drains lost souls

Where curing the sickness is our main goal

Behind these whitewashed and mortared walls

Sanitized screams echo through these great halls

But nothing’s sanitized about these odors

Come inside; I’m your host; I’ll give you the tour

This is the commons, where we spend our days

The residents listen to music, garden and play

There’s the marvelous, artistic Mrs. Philbin,

finger painting the walls with her feces again

Over there in the wheelchair is crazy Bill

Don’t mind him; he’s harmless, after his pills

He wheels around asking the nurses for dates

As he sits in his chair and just masturbates

Cover your ears, for Sarah’s shrill screams

will burst your eardrums and haunt your dreams

They strap on her jacket to take out some fight

and take her for treatment - watch your hand, she bites

That line over there?  That’s where we get our meds

Now let me show you where we keep the beds

This way now, stay close; you’ll get lost if you stray

I think there are lunatics down that way

Unacceptable is their social behavior

They are bad, bad, bad; they could be a danger

Take a peek, if you like, though watch where you’re steppin’

Oh, you will get used to the smell of urine

If you follow me now, I’ll take you to see

where we perform pre-frontal lobotomy

We have to be quiet as we descend down there

We don’t want to get caught, we shouldn’t be here

I suspect your interests, I think you’ll agree

is seeing some patients get shock therapy

When I come down here, I always am wary

It gives me the creeps; this place is scary

Here’s the mortuary, last stop for some flakes

And the crematory where we hide the mistakes

These people don’t matter, alone and defeated

They’re used to the way they’re abused and mistreated

We’ll end our tour here, where I’ll leave you alone

It’s our mass graveyard where we bury their bones

I’ll leave you with some concluding remarks

While you’re still thinking we’ll let you depart

We’ve been open for business since ‘74

1874 that is, shall I tell you some more?

There’s much history on these grounds where we stand

For once they hung witches not far from this land

I’ll pause for some questions before I must go

Is there anything more that you’d like to know?

What?  Why am I here is what you dare ask?

Never mind that; I’ll take you to task

The real question is why are you here?

This place has been closed the last 25 years

Author's Note

The Danvers State Lunatic Hospital & Insane Asylum was constructed in 1874 and was closed by the State of Massachusetts in 1992. It was built on property which was originally the home of John Hawthorne, the Salem Witch Trials judge. It housed psychiatric patients, substance abuse patients, the mentally retarded and the criminally insane from 1878 until 1989. Known for the science of straightjacket restraint, the practice of shock therapy and as the birthplace of the lobotomy, what started as a residential hospital with a philosophy of humane treatment for psychiatric patients, evolved into a house of horrors. Crumbling and in disrepair, the abandoned buildings were under protected status by the National Register of Historic Places for 13 years, until purchased and demolished by the Avalon Bay Development Company in 2005. Danvers State Asylum has been featured in several horror movies and stories and has been the subject of several paranormal investigations.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is brilliant. To be based on truth makes it all the more impressive as a creepy Halloween piece. The best part about your storytelling trajectory is how relaxed it feels, taking your time, sauntering the evil halls. The narrator feels super evil just becuz of this leisurely pacing with extra emphasis on many of your finest gory details (((HUGS)))

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you! I had so much fun with this one and was pleased with how it turned out. I was inspired to write about this place by the horror movie "Session 9" and by conversations I had with a friend about exploring abandoned buildings. I did a little research and this was the result. I'm glad you found it creepy and evil.

[Sebastian Falzarano]

Before I begin, the twist is what caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting it! And I have to admit that some of the patients are creepy, and you did a great job in portraying that!
I do have one question though, what does the title of the poem have to do with the poem itself? If there is a connection, would you please let me know?
Overall, an enjoying read and definitely a favorite! Dark and scary are what I am all for. Keep it up!

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it and I am especially pleased that the effect of the twist surprised. I am honored by your review. The title, refers to the narrator, who sees himself as sort of an authority figure at the hospital, who is actually a patient himself...or rather the ghost of a former patient.

[Sebastian Falzarano]

Interesting... I like the idea. It was brillant!

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you!

[Sebastian Falzarano]

Your welcome.

[Patrick]

Wow this is a brilliant piece my friend

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you so much, Patrick!

[char]

Wow, it creeps me out that places like this used to exist. That's some sick history to take in. Great poem, nice rhythm, no bullshit, just straightforward and to the point.

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thanks Anna! I wish I could have explored this place before they tore it down. There were many others just like it. If you every get the chance, check out the movie "Session 9", a psychological horror movie filmed there. It's on cable occasionally. Thank you so much for stopping by and giving me a review.

[KWP]

Ha! Love this .. love the rhyme and rhythm. I like to read 'stories' within poems, old skool like me. Lots of imagery, you can just picture being taken through this place.Especially like the ending and thank you to Frieda for recommending x x

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks to Frieda for recommending too! Now that we're friends, I'll be visiting soon.

[redzone]

Great, if horrifically scary.. did you know they have brought back electro-shock therapy...they use it on teens at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. You know Damien, in many ways Danvers is alive and well in many parts of the "enlightened" u. s of a.
~~redzone

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Wow, no kidding? I'm horrified that shock therapy is being used on kids today. We're not such an "enlightened" bunch in this country after all; even as much as some like to shout it from the rooftops. I am sympathetic towards these poor souls. Mental illness is still so misunderstood. I wonder if our friend Rita is aware of Friends Hospital. She lives in Philly. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the education!

[Lyn Anderson]

I can see why the place holds such fascination, and why it was used for horror movies -- an entertaining and informative write.

[Damien Thibodeaux]

As you can tell, I was certainly fascinated with the place and it's history. I love the thought of this place being loaded with the ghosts of the insane. Scares the hell out of me. Thanks for coming by and reading. It means a lot!

[Frieda P]

OOOOH freaky good, evil Dr Seuss are you!! It's kind of lengthy but well worth the read, those places always freak me out, there's one in joisey too, I swear it's haunted, kids drink there, I think they're nutz too! If only those walls could talk, oh man...............if I have bad dreams tonight, it'll be your soul Damien heh heh you're twisted dahlin........

100 nightmares!

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Ha, ha! Thanks for the awesome review Frieda!

[Frieda P]

Don't be thanking me yet, we'll see if I sleep tonight haha!

[J.P. Bristow]

A guided tour..........haunting in so many ways.

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading.

[Fran Marie]

This is or was a true place of horrors...a place I would not dare nor care to visit...

you did a fantastic job detailing this gruesome tale/ tour...a dark adventure for us readers..

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Thank you for your kind words, Fran. I used to love to explore old abandoned buildings when I was a kid. It was at the same time exciting and scary. I've wanted to explore this place ever since I was spooked by the movie, "Session 9", but sadly, it's been gone for almost a decade now.