What, you might ask, are “Arnzstigation Days?” Something akin to the end time if you must know. That is, the end of a really inventive and entertaining Kickstarter project called the Fridge of the Damned. Are you familiar with those magnets used to create poetry on your refrigerator? Well, horror authors, editors, and enthusiasts Michael A. Arnzen (multi-time Stoker Award winner) and Nathan Rosen have teamed up to make a horror-themed version available for purchase.
As if the product itself wasn’t cool enough, what donors receive in return for contributing…well, how often can you get a day in Las Vegas hanging with horror authors, a pulsing heart, a refrigerator filled with crazy goodies, original art, stories written for you exclusively by the author, and more. Don’t worry, the Fridge of the Damned is fully funded; right now they’re hoping to attain their stretch goal which will enable them to package the magnets in custom tin cases. While they’re closing in on that stretch goal there’s less than a week left for them to receive enough donations.
In the meantime I’m including here on my site some previously unseen work inspired by Michael A. Arnzen’s writing prompts. It is my hope that you enjoy them, and consider investigating the Fridge of the Damned further (unless you’re with law enforcement…seriously, this has nothing to do with those murders!).
Arnzstigation Sonnet
by John Edward Lawson
A man is hogtied, suspended from the ceiling
With fear collecting wet and uncomfortable
Tracing its way down the contours of his belly.
He could be leaking worse than sweat, tears, and mucous.
A boy stands below, admiring his shadow’s
Resemblance to a pregnant spider web while
Caressing a rod segment found at the scrap yard
Before slowly raising it to meet trembling flesh.
The man knows what is coming and squirms, delaying
Inevitable pain only by a fraction.
The rod glides along his torso, to his stomach.
Eyes bulge, blood vessels throb…audible wet ripping:
Bits of metal he was force-fed join the magnet.
Their embossed letters glisten bright as a child’s smile.
©2013
And now, if you are interested, here is the set of Dr. Arnzen’s writing prompts I drew from:
+ Treat an everyday object as a magic wand.
+ Discover a collection of ears.
+ Play a horrifying game of pinata.
I ran with ideas 1 and 3, adding in the whole Fridge of the Damned concept of words on metal creating horror. Hey, I even threw in a magnet! You can find more of Dr. Arnzen’s writing prompts at http://www.gorelets.com/blog/instigation/twisted-prompts-for-sicko-writers-31/
John Edward Lawson 
This poem is amazing! Great concept, so well executed. Great write-up about the damned fridge, too… amazing. Thanks so much John!
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Thanks, Mike! Your kind words mean a lot to me. I’m glad you enjoyed it, as it was written with an audience of one in mind: you! For all you’ve helped me to achieve over the years. Have a good one!
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I enjoyed your words, they left me feeling like my brain had good things put in it
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I’m fairly certain your brain is full of good things already, however: if you’d like me to remove some things from your brain, that can easily be arranged. In the meantime thank you for the kind words!
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That’s OK. Alright I’ll remove the magnolia soap I got from nan when I was 11. That’s better
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