SHI BLOGS TOO

The Legend Of The Phantom Of The Hallows

After reading my poem "The Phantom Of The Hallows" a reviewer asked me who the Phantom Of The Hollows was. He said he never met such a creature. So I decided to create a story explaining who the phantom really was.

Okay, so here is my story behind the poem ~

The Legend Of The Phantom Of The Hallows

As dark clouds were forming overhead, outside of East Ayrshire, Scotland there was going to be a Shinicle. At Shinny Hill a bonfire was lit to signal a hanging on Halloween. It was medieval times, and crimes were punishable through death by hanging; at the gallows on the hill near a castle.

This time it was different. They were going to hang an innocent man. The curious onlookers came from all around to climb the hill where the fire raged. The fire also drew the man's friends, Jamie and Nathan, a pair of rough reckless lads who had betrayed him and falsely accused him out of their own greed for land. They had shared with him a Barony; an area of land from the King of Scotland. Both loved to drink and their follies caused them to go on rampages and rape the women who lived on the properties.

When the council got news of these rapes, the men turned on their friend Jack, and convinced the royal court it was he the Baron, or tenant in chief, as he was called; who committed the crimes against the King. Both men proclaiming:

"Spare us, it is Jack's duty to hold power over his clansmen, he is the legal head of the barony!" they shouted out at the council.

The court deemed Jack's guilt and announced his "doom" as the sentence was called. He was granted his one last wish to be able to sit upon his Herial Horse, which was the best horse his barony possessed.

As he was being led from the courtroom, his glazed eyes met with those of his shameless accusers, and he retorted in bitter anguish; which made their blood run cold:

"I curse you, Jamie and Nathan!" Your souls will never rest and you will never be rid of me. My soul will be free to wander the earth as a mortal until the dawn after All Saint's Day. I warn you both: I will come for you someday."


The thunder rolled in the distance and it began raining in torrents. The innocent man was being led to the gallows upon the back of a monstrous black steed. The noose was placed around his neck. Just then a deafening crack was heard, the nostrils of the great beast flared in fright as he reared back, then bolted, snapping the noose from the hangman's rope. Lightening streaked across the hilltop as the black beast and his slumped rider galloped off into the shadows of the night; never to be seen nor heard of again for centuries.

A stream of sightings began in the early 1800's and never ceased. In the graveyards or kirkyairds as they are called in Scotland two figures clad in robed disguise were said to have been seen running through the cemetery grounds; weeping and moaning. Upon being approached they would simply disappear before one's eyes!

On one dank, chilly evening a horse and rider stopped near the entrance of Old Dalnellington Cemetery and the rider asked a passerby if they knew where a certain lad was buried.

"Try the crypt over there" he was told. Then he and his horse vanished into the mist.

It's especially spooky on Halloween night. Beware, if you go near the narrow pathway winding down to the crypt. You will hear the shrieking coming from inside the walls!