The ghost in the burbs swaggers and carries
the rifle he used in the shooting when killing
that guy ogling the girl he intended to marry
he carries the burden of blood finding it thrilling
he carries the death of his victim, bragging
“I’ll do it again, to anyone, to any betrayer
any to stare at my gal their mothers be bagging”
though later at night, he’s crying, not being the slayer
but simply a serial liar, a boastful simple pretender
man-baby fed on the myths of manly bravado
his bride brings him milk and being the mender
while waiting for cops she calls him sweet desperado.
Today Merril brings us a list of podcast titles at dVerse:
Articles of Interest: American Ivy
I Was Never There
Legacy of Speed
Not Lost
Pivot
Reveal: After Ayotzinapa
Rumble Strip
Serial
This American Life
Ghost in the Burbs
Our task is to incorporate at least two of these titles into a poem. I have listened to three of these podcasts and one of them “Serial” was one that brought me into podcast listening back when the first season came out.
January 3 2023
Björn Rudbergs writings 
This is such a dark poem, Björn, that has echoes of Scandi noir crime series and books. I find these lines especially effective:
‘though later at night, he’s crying, not being the slayer
but simply a serial liar, a boastful simple pretender
man-baby fed on the myths of manly bravado’.
We have had a lot o shootings the last few years in Sweden… alas it seems to be a vicious circle fed from various man-myths, turf wars and revenge for small slights…
That’s awful. It seems to be like that everywhere though.
When it comes to shootings Sweden is worst in Europe at the moment…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/fatal-shootings-have-risen-in-sweden-despite-fall-across-europe-report-finds
I found this part of the article interesting:
“It is a kind of social contagion,” she said. “If a shooting takes place, another usually takes place close to it, in both time and space.” Not surprising if it is gang retaliation, but not all of it is gang retaliation.
I so dislike this man/ghost. Well done!
Are you on Twitter? Broken Spine is looking for poems on masculinity. I don’t know if you can share one that’s been on your blog though.
It’s interesting that we both started listening to podcasts with that first season of Serial. It was so good! And Adnan Syed has been freed!
what a story line – the tempo, the stream of words, the picture you conjured
There was a level of intensity in your words that echoes the killer’s dark emotions. Wonderful!
A dark story for sure! Sadly it is somewhat representative of what actually happens these days!
It is difficult to know how to be a man or a woman. No need to pick up a firearm to settle the matter. I like the curveball of the “bride” giving positive reinforcement for the act. Better just to be oneself instead of following mainstream expectations. Hoping he can sort it out while in prison.
How sad. I’m sure many killers are these confused man-babies of false bravado who don’t realize the full effects of their impulsive actions.
A powerful and chilling poem. Well done!
I like how this poem ends with the unravelling of the man’s true self.
What a mess! It feels like there is so much toxic masculinity causing so much trouble at the moment, stoked by idiots. I like the way this poem moves between people, and the ending is great. It seems he lies to h imself more than anyone else.
I liked the story, Bjorn. Most crooks and killers turn out to be like your poor soul. Nice writer.
And, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
a very intense piece of writing Bjorn.
One of your most riveting poems, Bjorn. Darkness, truth all wound up in each other. Wishing you a Happy New Year.
A chilling poem, Bjorn. 🙂
A dive into forensic psychology: so unsettling.
We need to change the stories we tell our children…(K)
Catching up on my reading from California! This was an amazing read, Bjorn. These words
“he’s crying, not being the slayer
but simply a serial liar, a boastful simple pretender
man-baby fed on the myths of manly bravado”
especially hit me. A “man-baby” and a serial liar….but a liar of this magnitude! It reminds me of the case in the U.S. now where the assumed killer was recently caught in another state after stabbing to death four young college kids in an off-campus house in the middle of the night. The man arrested was a PhD student in criminal justice? or criminology? and a nearby university. One wonders if he was contemplating using these murders and his feelings while killing, while escaping, then being caught, as fodder for his PhD Dissertation? Quite the case….and quite the serial liar here in your piece.