WELCOME TO THE 13 DAYS OF HORROR
The 13 Days of Horror would not be complete without the ‘horrible stanzas’ of Zapata. I’ve followed this phenomenal writer around cyber-streets until my brain blistered – you need take out and a six pack just to get through his list of successes. Whether he is writing insightful works, such as Unscrambling Love,(Issue 53) – First Place Dorsal Winner at Doorknobs & Bodypaint and top 40 in the 2009 Editor Unleashed Flash Fiction 40 Contest, or his reflection, The Twins: September 2001, he is crafting the darker delights we love so much, like one of my favorites, The Bridge, published at ShadeWorks. Plus, he’s a detective too, exposing and disposing a rat from our abode!
It is a great honor to welcome my next guest in the 13 Days of Horror, one of my horror gurus, Angel Zapata and his badass poem, Styx and Stones.
Styx and Stones
by Angel Zapata
He collects pennies in glass jars.
They won’t be spent on pleasing flesh.
Old copper coins like tarnished stars
absorb the voltage of his wish.
On moonless nights, he excavates
with shovel, pickaxe, trowel and spade.
Cold earth forecloses real estate,
provides the salary he’s paid.
With rock removed, the dirt inside
like snowflakes melting on the tongue;
his eager fingers brush aside
the frayed bell cord no grave has rung.
The Ferryman’s clandestine prize
at last exposed on dead man’s eyes.
Angel Zapata blogs here: A Rage of Angel
Erin Cole 
Jeanette CheezumAngel,I love this…scary poetry. After reading thesestories tonight, you people concern me.
LikeLike
Elegant, my friend…
LikeLike
"Styx and Stones" may river our bones but names like Angel Zapata will traverse us . . . . . . to worlds to see in new eyes. Though you had me at "old copper coins like tarnished stars", I absolutely swooned (I did) at the "voltage of his wish". You're the stanza-man Angel, and I'm glad as a "clandestine prize" to have come to know ye. ~ Absolutely*KateErin/Ed Sullivan ~ you put the Hall'o'fame in Halloween!
LikeLike
Nice one, Angel! This is just screaming out to be read aloud. Wonderfully assured writing, and one of the best titles ever. Respect for The Ferryman…
LikeLike
Ooooohhh, I love the idea of paying Charon in coins to cross the river Styx — you've done an amazing job portraying Charon in a wonderful poem of horror. Yet really, he's just doing his job, isn't he?
LikeLike
Very nice poetry, Angel. I will be watching you…
LikeLike
Angel, I am constantly in awe of your originality and skill. A brilliant device for horror and mythology. Well done!
LikeLike
You people are too kind. This was a lot of fun to write and I spent a ton of pennies following Mr. Ferryman around for weeks. *sigh* The things we do for art…Erin,You've done a great thing featuring so many writers that rock my world. I'm glad I'm a part of this thrill-ride. Thanks!
LikeLike
Such fluent descriptions in this piece, a brilliant and vivid glimpse of the voyage into the underworld. You have a real gift for unearthing such fascinating themes and are even better at writing about them. Fantastic piece Angel.
LikeLike
Nice work, Angel. The first two lines are really good at pulling in the reader.
LikeLike
The visions you write and the mere sounds of the words is a like a clean smooth cut with a razor blade. Also has a nostalgic feel- good old fashioned haunting.Excellent, Angel.
LikeLike
Absolutely spectacular.
LikeLike
This was dark and brilliant and beautiful – all things I have some to associate with your writing. Dark mythology given new life. I look forward to the day when my bookshelf holds a volume of these poems by Angel Zapata.
LikeLike
Your usual top-quality mix of lovely verse and horrible subject, Angel. Well done.What an awful lot of work for tuppence though!
LikeLike
Amazing horror you build in your short stanzas, Angel. Wonderful!Erin – Perfect artistic complement!
LikeLike
Fantistic prose and imagination there Angel, great work.
LikeLike
Congratulations to you Angel, you have managed to intoxicate all of us with your literary magic yet again . Well done & bravo , Take Care , Mal,…
LikeLike
eye-popping, eye candy! simply, stupefyingly – superb.
LikeLike
Great piece Angel. Loved it!Regards, David.
LikeLike
Mr Zapata ia a master, really. Wonderful work.
LikeLike