WTH; Wisconsin Parents Used to Read This Twisted Ed Gein Poem To Kids?!?

When it comes to serial killers, Ed Gein of Plainfield, Wisconsin is about as disturbing as it gets.

Without diving into all the evil and sick things Ed Gein did, I'll just say this; Ed Gein was a murderer, a body snatcher, a suspected cannibal, and 100 percent bat sh*t crazy.

The 'Butcher of Plainfield'

Gein stood trial for the murder of two women in 1968 but was suspected of murdering 7 more. He mutilated 9 corpses that he stole from cemeteries, and was eventually found to be legally insane. Ed Gein spent the rest of his life in the Mendota Mental Health Institute where he died in 1984.

People were, and still are, terrifyingly fascinated by the man, (myself included), but I feel this popular poem from back in the day took the sick obsession a little too far?

'Ed Gein's Christmas'

While perusing posts in one of my favorite Wisconsin Facebook groups, Strange Wisconsin, I came across a picture of a poem that somebody recently found among their great-grandfather's stuff.

At first glance it appeared to be a different version of the famous holiday poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas', but after reading the words I quickly discovered it was far darker than that.

The original author of this poem is unknown, but it's basically 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' meets Halloween. While I appreciate the creativity of the writing,  it's definitely NOT something I would be reading to my children before bed each night...or ever for that matter.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all though the shed,
All creatures were stirring, even old Ed.

The bodies were hung from the rafters above,
While Eddie was searching for another new love.

He went to Wautoma for a Plainfield deal,
Looking for love and also a meal.

When what to his hungry eyes should appear,
But old Mary Hogan in her new red brassiere.

Her cheeks were like roses when kissed by the sun
And she let out a scream at the sight of Ed's gun.

Old Ed pulled the trigger and Mary fell dead,
He took his old axe and cut off her head.

He then took his hacksaw and cut her in two,
One half for hamburger, the other for stew.

And laying a hand aside of her heel,
Up to the rafter went his next meal.

He sprang to his truck, to the graveyard he flew,
The hours were short and much work he must do.

He looked for the grave where the fattest one laid,
And started digging with a shovel and spade.

He shoveled and shoveled and shoveled some more,
Till finally he reached the old coffin door.

He took out a crowbar and pried open the box,
He was not only clever but sly as a fox.

As he picked up the body and cut off her head,
He could tell by the smell that the old girl was dead.

He filled in the grave by the moonlight above,
And once more old Ed had found a new love.

Apparently, in the wake of the Ed Gein murders/trial, Ed Gein humor ran rampant through communities, and the above poem was part of it.

What I find most disturbing about this poem is the number of people who commented on the Strange Wisconsin post saying things like;

"I remember this poem! My parents/grandparents used to read it to me when I was a kid".

 

Seriously? WTF?!? Did kids not have nightmares back in the 60s? My children would likely be scarred for life if I read this to them...even if it was just for fun. LOL! (Yes, my children may be slightly sheltered and very sensitive, but I'd like to keep them that way for as long as I can).

READ MORE: 4 of the World's Worst Serial Killers Were From Wisconsin