All Hallows' Evening

In the gloom of the night came the screams from the scree
from the foot of the mountain, from inside the cave.
Are they human or animal… phantoms set free?
Will my heartbeat deliver a hero or knave?

So beyond the flat land with a cover of frost
rose the beasts’ craggy peaks with its hair-raising sounds
and the grass neath my feet crunched like bones as I crossed…
Now, I shiver in sync with my pulse as it pounds.

On the steps cut from stone to the chaos I rise
as the hills seem to mock giddy knees as they knock,
but there’s magic in mayhem… all cloaked in disguise
and bewitched by the hauntings inside this old rock...
 
and as lantern-lit skeletons spook this dark place
for the tricks and the treats there’s a smile on my face.


Susan Ashley
October 13, 2022


~ First Place ~
Contest: All Hallows’ Evening
Sponsor: Craig Cornish

*Meter: anapestic tetrameter
*English Sonnet rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef gg
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Lillico  Avatar
March 12, 2023 at 2:26 PM
Interesting intriguing skilful write!!!
Ashley Avatar
March 22, 2023 at 11:59 AM
Dear Margarita, thank you for your wonderful comment! This contest sponsored by Craig Cornish was interesting in that the Sonnet had to be written in anapestic tetrameter instead of traditional iambic pentameter and it had to have a Halloween theme as well. I found it challenging needless to say but it was a great creative experience. Your lovely presence here is truly appreciated. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Rodrigues Avatar
December 2, 2022 at 6:23 AM
I love this, Susan! Each verse a haunt! Congratulations!
Ashley Avatar
December 2, 2022 at 7:27 AM
Dear Kim, thank you! I'm so glad to know you enjoyed this poem. Your heartwarming congrats is received with gratitude. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Baker Avatar
November 30, 2022 at 10:34 PM
Congratulations on the winner, Susan! I enjoy the spooky read, my friend. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill
Ashley Avatar
December 1, 2022 at 8:12 AM
Dear Bill, I relish your heartwarming congrats! I'm so glad to know you enjoyed this spooky poem. Thank you for your thoughtful visit and for the smiles. Warmest wishes, my wonderful friend.. ~Susan
Proxenos Avatar
November 26, 2022 at 9:45 AM
I love this poem dear Susan, it starts off so scary that my scalp tingles, and i wonder what awaits us the readers, as we read the next line, horror at its best, then you let us off the hook and we relax as we read that you smile at the tricks and the treats on Old hallows' Evening. - 'Magic in mayhem'. Great write dearest friend, congrats on your win in the contest, love and hugs Jennifer.
Ashley Avatar
November 26, 2022 at 10:05 AM
My dear, sweet Jennifer, it's so wonderful to see you! I hope you received my soup mail sent to you after I heard about your awful ordeal. I am so very delighted to know you are recovering from that scary event. Your shining presence and beautiful thoughts make my day, my wonderful poetry sis. I'm so glad your were caught up in the frightening imagery until wrapped up in the smiles of the trick or treat in the end. Your kind congrats are held in my truest gratitude, as is your lovely friendship. Warmest wishes, love and hugs.. ~Susan
Watt Avatar
November 20, 2022 at 6:53 PM
You have saturated your mayhem with magic, sis, and my Halloween heart palpitates in sync with your pulse. Loved the way your words captured the mood of the night. Knee-knocking congrats and a ghoulish tip of a witch's hat for your win! ~ PoBro
Ashley Avatar
November 25, 2022 at 6:38 AM
My dear PoBro, your shining words have the power to stir a sense of enchantment. Thank you for the delight of your visit and for your precious comments. Your fun-loving Halloween spirit could charm the green right off a ghoul lol! Your heartwarming congrats are truly appreciated. Warmest wishes and hugs, I hope you and yours enjoyed a very happy Thanksgiving.. ~your PS-PS
Peck Avatar
November 20, 2022 at 8:47 AM
What a perfect Hallowed Eve poem, Susan! Loved ~ shiver in sync with my pulse as it pounds ~ grass near my feet crunched like bones as I crossed. Very spooky with a happy ending. Congratulations!
Ashley Avatar
November 24, 2022 at 12:24 PM
Dear Ann, it's wonderful to hear from you! I'm so glad to know you enjoyed my poem, your beautiful comments are such a joy to receive! Thank you for your kindness and for your heartwarming congrats. Warmest wishes for a happy Thanksgiving, my friend.. ~Susan
Andresen Avatar
November 20, 2022 at 6:38 AM
- A wonderful Halloween poem, Susan :) - Well deserved a winning place - Halloween celebration in Norway is not that "big", I have celebrated it once... when my grandchildren were small :) - Have a lovely Sunday :) - hugs
Ashley Avatar
November 24, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Dear Anne-Lise, it's so wonderful to see you! Thank you for sharing in the Halloween spirit of this poem with me. Your lovely comments are received with gratitude.. thank you, my friend. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan
George Avatar
November 19, 2022 at 11:05 PM
'Lantern lit skeletons' in the dark..... what a spooky image ! Whatever subject you take up, you give your heart and soul to it that each turns a masterpiece at the end ! You should be thankful to God for blessing you with a facile pen which you can wield at any time in any way, dear friend Susan !
Ashley Avatar
November 24, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Dear Valsa, my lovely friend and grand poetess, I am humbled by your beautiful thoughts about my poem when your own exquisite poetry never fails to take my breath away. Thank you for sharing in the spooky spirit of this Halloween poem, and indeed, I thank God every day for the ability to be creative and expressive. I also thank God for the enjoyment of your poetic gift and friendship as well. Warmest wishes and hugs, my inspiring friend.. ~Susan
Callus Avatar
November 18, 2022 at 5:21 AM
You have ably projected the spirit of Halloween, Susan. No mean feat, considering that apart from content you also had to concentrate on anapestic tetrameter, which could be quite a stumbling block for the unwary. ~ Congratulations on placing first, my friend. ~ Warm regards & Hugs // paul
Callus Avatar
December 3, 2022 at 12:32 PM
Thank you for your beautiful reply to my comment, Susan. There is so much satisfaction in sharing with others, especially with such a sincere, appreciative and supportive friend like you, and knowing that some good has come out of it. Sending season' wishes to you and your loved ones. Warm regards & hugs // paul
Ashley Avatar
November 24, 2022 at 12:13 PM
Dear Paul, indeed, anapestic tetrameter can be quite the stumbling block! Such a puzzle to put together.. lol! It's always so wonderful to receive your thoughtful and beautiful comments. I learn from you with each poem read and every comment/reply exchanged between us.. Paul, I don't know if you realize what a great mentor and friend you have been to me, so I just want to say, thank you. Your kind congrats are heartwarming. Warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan
Kauffman Avatar
November 17, 2022 at 1:39 PM
Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, back with congratulations on your trophy win! This is truly a harrowing tale of ghosts, ghouls and wandering spirits haunting a cave! Love your last line poetry sis! Sending many blessings of "treats!"
Ashley Avatar
November 24, 2022 at 12:05 PM
My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, your return visit with your heartwarming congrats is deeply appreciated, and your radiant friendship and poetic sistership fills me with gratitude. I'm so glad to know you enjoyed my poem, your beautiful comments are such a joy to receive! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, my dear Sam. May your loving table be filled with the blessings of the harvest season and your everyday filled with an abundance of love, peace and prosperity. A cornucopia of warmest wishes, love and hugs sent your way.. ~Susan
Agustin Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 8:36 PM
Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing your poetic talent... again exposed through this muse of yours... along the contest requirements excellently met. May I tell you that you are among my mentors in this poetry site. Thanks. God bless you.
Ashley Avatar
November 17, 2022 at 11:42 AM
Dear Beata, I am both humbled and honored by your heartwarming words. As poets, that we are willing to learn from each other and inspire each other is truly a gift so generously shared as we cultivate our own artistic expression and embrace with appreciation the artistic expression of others. Thank you for sharing your precious thoughts and heartfelt congrats with me, both are received with gratitude. You and your beautiful poetry are exceptional! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Alex Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 7:27 PM
Beautiful depiction of the eve with plenty of images. Congratulations!
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 7:37 PM
Dear Christuraj, your gracious visit is truly appreciated. Thank you for your lovely comments and heartfelt congrats! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Roper Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 5:26 PM
Back with a great big congratulations on your top win. Blessings friend
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 6:26 PM
Dear Eve, your return visit and heartfelt congrats are received with gratitude. Thank you for your gracious visit, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Kibble Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 1:41 PM
Congratulations on your wonderful piece full of great imagery. I especially liked "shiver in sync" and "giddy knees as they knock.
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 4:53 PM
Dear Sean, it’s a pleasure to share the podium with you! Thank you for your warm congrats and wonderful comments. I especially appreciate knowing which phrases you liked most. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Dietrich Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 1:01 PM
SO Cool and you always deliver well with imagery. Your meter is spot on. Congrats on that well deserved top spot.
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 4:50 PM
Thank you for your wonderful comments and kind congrats, Andrea. This was my first try at writing in anapestic tetrameter so I especially appreciate your mention of my use of this meter since I admire your impeccable use of meter in your beautiful poetry. I am very encouraged by your words. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan
Cornish Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 6:48 AM
A well-deserved first place from all angles. This is how a difficult form and message can be/is written - bravo!
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 7:40 AM
Dear Craig, your kind comments and congrats are received with gratitude. Thank you for the honor of my poem's placement in your challenging contest. I appreciate being among the esteemed poets sharing the podium. I also appreciated the challenge of writing this poem in anapestic tetrameter. Your contest was an enjoyable learning experience for me. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Wolf Avatar
November 15, 2022 at 7:05 PM
'Arr Harrows Evening.' ~ Gentre Japanese Clitic.
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 7:19 AM
Lol! Dear Gershon, it's wonderful to see you! Thank you for your gracious visit. Haven't been able to be here much lately but I'll be by to visit your wonderful poetry very soon. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Hankins Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 12:29 PM
What a delightful look at All Hallow's Evening, Susan. I loved the way your poem both rhymed and flowed its way through "hair-raising sounds," including your "knees as they knock." Wonderful!
Ashley Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 9:44 PM
Dear Milton, thank you for your gracious visit and wonderful comments. I’m so glad to know you enjoyed my poem. It was inspired by Craig Cornish’s contest and this poem was my first attempt at writing in anapestic tetrameter so I hope I succeeded in using the meter correctly. Your words are so uplifting, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Kauffman Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 9:50 AM
My dearest Rhyme Time Friend, a spooky cave with "lantern lit skeletons," grass that crunches like bones, "shiver in sync" your creative artistry and always inventive poet's soul always produces works of art and a very scary sonnet indeed sweet poetry sis! I always marvel at the poetic wonders that flow so easily from your magic, golden pen! Best wishes for the contest! I think I'll sleep with the light on tonight!!! Blessings to fill that ghostly cave with light!
Ashley Avatar
November 16, 2022 at 8:04 AM
My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, I hope you're not running up your electric bill to much these days! Lol! How wonderful it is to share my imagination with my beautiful poetry sis, who is just as imaginative, if not more so, and who is also still such a delightful kid at heart? I would say it is very wonderful for me indeed to share in being young at heart with you, dear Sam. I am elated by the magic of your comments, they light up my heart, my sweet friend. Your precious thoughts sparkle and they are held in my truest appreciation. Warmest wishes sent on gentle moonbeams.. ~Susan
Roper Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 9:26 AM
Great verse with great imagery, sounds and feelings. Very whimsical and scary . Blessing my friend
Ashley Avatar
November 13, 2022 at 9:46 AM
Dear Eve, it is so wonderful to see you! Thank you for your heartwarming comments. I'm so glad to know you enjoyed my poem. This is my first time writing in anapestic tetrameter so it was a lovely challenge, hopefully I succeeded in getting the meter correct. I hope all is well with you and yours, my friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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