Duane Ackerson

Duane Ackerson Poems

Duane Ackerson Biography

Duane Ackerson (born 1942) is an American writer of speculative poetry and fiction. He currently lives in Salem, Oregon. Duane Ackerson's work has appeared in anthologies that include The Year's Best SF 1974, 100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories, Future Pastimes, and the textbook Writing Poetry. He has won the Rhysling Award for Best Short Poem twice, in 1978 and 1979.)

The Best Poem Of Duane Ackerson

The Vampire as Narcissist

Yes, the hair continues to grow after death—
even more so among the living dead.
Before a night out on the town,
he can't just go into a barber shop and say,
'Shave and a haircut, two bits.'
(Even though he is old enough to remember
when those services only cost a quarter.)
So, at home, he passes on the electric razor
(besides, the power to the mansion
was shut off, past due years before):
instead, opting for the good, old-fashioned straightedge.
Trying to unearth his reflection in the mirror,
he draws blood
along with a full-throated scream.
Licking the blade clean,
drawing fresh blood from the tongue,
he drinks even deeper of the elixir of death.
No reason to go out now.
He can just stay home
and enjoy himself.

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