The Bone Church

The Bone Church is a narrative poem by Stephen King, originally published in Playboy in November 2009 and later collected in The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. Told by an unnamed survivor recounting his experiences over drinks at a bar, the poem follows a doomed expedition deep into an unnamed jungle. As the journey progresses, danger, mystery, and death reduce the group to only a handful of survivors. Blending adventure, horror, and folklore, The Bone Church creates a haunting atmosphere and showcases King’s talent for storytelling in verse rather than traditional prose.