The Body Snatchers

He peered on out at the darkening sky,

Pulled out the watch from its fob,

Traced his finger across the hand

That would time his nefarious job,

Then Matthew Scribbins packed his tools,

The short, strong wooden spade,

Designed for silence while biting deep

Into the dirt of the grave.

 

The wooden pushcart never came out

As long as the moon shone bright,

His lantern gave out a muted glow

That could barely be seen in the night,

The canvas sheeting lay in a roll

Ready to spread out wide,

To heap the dirt from his shovellings

Then wrap the body inside.

 

He took his orders from almoners

Watching the hospital wards,

They’d look for cadavers heading on out,

And tell him, ‘This one is yours!’

Physicians needed a steady supply

For their students, fit to dissect,

The fresher the body the more it was worth

When he hauled it out by the neck.

 

He pushed his cart down the backyard lane

And whistled low for his youth,

Then out of the shadows crept his mark

An urchin called Henry Tooth,

For Henry went and he helped to dig

Or tunnelled from four feet down,

Then ripped the head from the coffin of deal

For the prize that was worth five pound.

 

‘Tonight we’ve got us a lucky one,

Just buried this afternoon,

The earth is soft ‘til the rains have come,

We’ll be in and out in the gloom.’

He leered at Tooth as they pushed the cart

To the graveyard at Paxton Hurle,

‘You ‘ll get a good look at what is what,

Tonight, we’ve got us a girl!’

 

The lad grinned back and he threw his cap

On the ground, and picked up the spade,

Went in at the head where the coffin was,

While the lantern lay in the shade,

In twenty minutes they hit the top

With a mute, dull muffled sound,

And smashed it through to attach the rope

Then pull the girl from the ground.

 

She lay with her eyes wide open there,

Looked blankly up at the sky,

Her hair in tresses around her neck

That said: ‘It’s a shame to die!’

Young Henry stared with a haunted look

And crossed himself in the dark,

‘Get on with it boy, we haven’t time,

We’re not in a boating park!’

 

Then Scribbins caught at the hem of her shroud

And pulled it over her head,

She lay stark naked with pearly skin

In a stark affront to the dead,

They took the rings from her fingers then,

The earrings out of her ears,

And tossed them back in the coffin then

With the shroud, to banish their fears.

 

For theft was classed as a felony,

And that could have got them hung,

The body a misdemeanor, just

A fine or imprisonment.

They shovelled the earth back into the grave

And rolled the girl in the sheet,

Then placed her up on the handcart:

‘Just imagine that she’s asleep!’

 

They carried her to the dissection room

Picked up their pound of flesh,

Unrolled the girl on a marble slab,

The doctors would do the rest.

A novice thought he would make a cut

And raised a knife ‘til it gleamed,

Her breast had quivered as he drew blood

And the girl sat up, and screamed!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

oh man Dave does this ever scream morbid? in the old days it wasn't uncommon to hear a story about someone buried alive. Of course that's why they embalm people now. I have to say this one was written very well. Plays along and dances like a tune but what a horrible sound.however the beauty lies in the tempo in the cadence.
Your friend
Tate

[redflutterby]

I happen to be watching a remake of the Body Snatchers then I saw this. Eerie David?? Haha... very morbid tale but at least their crime saved her from an early grave..literally!!!

[JM Russell]

Very unexpected ending. I thought they'd get caught or someone would recognize the body as someone they knew. I liked your ending better. Well done the flow of the poem perfect as always. Can't wait to read more.

[Siren]

I love this. I'm always for a dark story or poem, and you've crafted a great one here. Wonderful job! You definitely take us for a ride, a journey, in every piece that you write. Thanks so much for sharing!

[Patricia B. Hepler]

Fascinating. The tension builds beautifully; the horrific thought of being buried alive, alarming. Well done!
~pat

[Lena M. P.]

Oh man you hit on my greatest fear with this one. This is why I have specifics drawn out when I die to make sure I'm really gone. Good spooky one and has happened more than once in real life. Funny how it was a bigger offense to steal from the body than it was to take the person.

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Great read. Didn't expect the twist at the end.

[Valentine]

Oh my..y9ou got me this time..I was not expecting her to be alive..I really like it when yout spin these kinds of tales..Good job on this one..loved it..Love Kathie

[Emerald Seas]

What a great read, David! Love the ending and so unexpected! Creepy where your mind goes for these writings but then, without such a mind where would we find all these wonderful readings!
Well done, my friend!

[Marie]

Oh--I was expecting something, but I didn't know what.
I don't know if Scribbins was a real character or not. I do know about Burke and Hare. Resurrection men...