Home » Poems » Agnes Krampe » Echoes of Hiawatha

Echoes of Hiawatha

The Cave I descended in the cavern, Through a passage, I descended, Deep and deeper, ever narrow, Ever further, ever darker. As I sat and turned my light off, Not a glimmer, not a flicker, Not a shine of distant lantern, Utter darkness, black and starless. Not a sound of beast or human, Not the plink of dripping water Nor the rustling of faint breezes – Utter silence, mute and soundless. And I felt the cool hard limestone, Felt the rock beneath my body, Felt the wisdom and the secrets In the ancient womb of Gaia. Contest Echoes of Hiawatha: Compose a poem in the style of Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha, maximum 20 lines. Form must be trochaic tetrameter, no rhyme (Select form as "verse"). Incorporate Longfellow's use of repetition as a device.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Line Gauthier

Date: 8/6/2018 10:15:00 PM

Love this poem, Agnes.

Eve Roper

Date: 9/25/2017 8:46:00 PM

Back to congratulate you on your win, Agnes . Hugs Eve ~`*

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/25/2017 8:02:00 PM

GREAT win, Agnes!!!! Yes,I CAN tell it's like you are in the beat of Song of Hiawatha. I invented a form years ago called 7/5 Trochee (you can find it under new forms at Shadowpoetry.com) I think if you wrote some poems using that form, they would be really cute. You have that meter already mastered!

Constance La France

Date: 9/25/2017 10:40:00 AM

Agnes, congratulations on your win, I recall that contest ~

Susan Ashley

Date: 9/3/2017 9:31:00 PM

Very beautifully written and completely captivating. I so enjoyed your poem Agnes. Congratulations on your win! :)

John Michaels

Date: 9/3/2017 4:08:00 AM

Lovely rhythm and flow, Agnes. Fully deserving of a win, so pleased Janice's contest gave you that opportunity!! All the best, John.

Agnes Krampe
Date: 9/3/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thank you, John.

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/2/2017 10:23:00 PM

Agnes, thank you for entering my contest, CONGRATULATIONS On your win. Janice

Agnes Krampe
Date: 9/3/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thank you very much, Janice - I am glad you liked my poem.

Winged Warrior

Date: 7/13/2017 10:33:00 AM

In the ancient wisdom of Agnes Krampe...caves are far more mysterious than we give them credit...nice one Ag...^WW^

Agnes Krampe
Date: 9/3/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thank you, ^WW^

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 7/10/2017 6:56:00 PM

Somehow I felt shades Edgar Allan Poe in this marvelous piece Agnes! The mystery beneath the earth is intoxicating. We have but scratched the surface of the mysteries yet to be discovered. : )

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/10/2017 7:47:00 PM

Thanks, Connie. Poe's Raven is trochaic octameters, so I can see why this evokes Poe (and am very flattered, LOL)

Paul Callus

Date: 7/10/2017 5:24:00 PM

I am sure you succeeded in what you set out to do when you wrote this poem, Agnes. The meter was ably tackled; the first stanza depicts the long climb down to the bottom; the silence and darkness contribute to being closer to mother earth. I can relate...caves are enchanting .Regards // paul

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/10/2017 5:59:00 PM

Thank you for your kind and thoughful comments, Paul.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 7/10/2017 7:56:00 AM

I can feel the stillness in your touching poem, Agnes:) awesome:)

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/10/2017 1:37:00 PM

Thank you, Jo.

Eve Roper

Date: 7/9/2017 1:59:00 PM

Wonderful imagery I can feel that cool stone and love the theme, Agnes ~*

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/10/2017 1:37:00 PM

Thank you, Eve.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/6/2017 11:46:00 PM

oh yes, it DOES sound like hiawatha/ I had started out on the wrong beat though and did not catch it at the very beginning. One would have have to accentuate the word I at the very beginning of line one I think , in order to have that Hiawatha meter, right? it's been so long since I read the poem!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/6/2017 11:46:00 PM

Going back home soon. So probably I will not be around here for the next two days. See ya, Agnes.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/2/2017 10:48:00 PM

Your meter in this verse is rock solid!! Loved reading it to that great flow!! Love the way you made it seem so real, Agnes.

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/3/2017 9:07:00 AM

Thank you, Andrea. I wanted to try out this particular meter (can you tell I am listening to Song of Hiawatha on audiobook?)