Agnes Krampe Poet Verse

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.

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Line Gauthier August 6, 2018 at 10:15 PM Love this poem, Agnes.

Eve Roper September 25, 2017 at 8:46 PM Back to congratulate you on your win, Agnes . Hugs Eve ~`*

Andrea Dietrich September 25, 2017 at 8:02 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 September 25, 2017 at 10:40 AM Agnes, congratulations on your win, I recall that contest ~

Susan Ashley September 3, 2017 at 9:31 PM Very beautifully written and completely captivating. I so enjoyed your poem Agnes. Congratulations on your win! :)

John Michaels September 3, 2017 at 4:08 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 September 3, 2017 at 4:47 PM Thank you, John.

Janice Canerdy September 2, 2017 at 10:23 PM Agnes, thank you for entering my contest, CONGRATULATIONS On your win. Janice Agnes Krampe September 3, 2017 at 4:47 PM Thank you very much, Janice - I am glad you liked my poem.

Winged Warrior July 13, 2017 at 10:33 AM In the ancient wisdom of Agnes Krampe...caves are far more mysterious than we give them credit...nice one Ag...^WW^ Agnes Krampe September 3, 2017 at 4:47 PM Thank you, ^WW^

Connie Marcum Wong July 10, 2017 at 6:56 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 July 10, 2017 at 7:47 PM Thanks, Connie. Poe's Raven is trochaic octameters, so I can see why this evokes Poe (and am very flattered, LOL)

Paul Callus July 10, 2017 at 5:24 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 July 10, 2017 at 5:59 PM Thank you for your kind and thoughful comments, Paul.

Joanna Daniel July 10, 2017 at 7:56 AM I can feel the stillness in your touching poem, Agnes:) awesome:) Agnes Krampe July 10, 2017 at 1:37 PM Thank you, Jo.

Eve Roper July 9, 2017 at 1:59 PM Wonderful imagery I can feel that cool stone and love the theme, Agnes ~* Agnes Krampe July 10, 2017 at 1:37 PM Thank you, Eve.

Andrea Dietrich July 6, 2017 at 11:46 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 July 6, 2017 at 11:46 PM Going back home soon. So probably I will not be around here for the next two days. See ya, Agnes.

Andrea Dietrich July 2, 2017 at 10:48 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 July 3, 2017 at 9:07 AM Thank you, Andrea. I wanted to try out this particular meter (can you tell I am listening to Song of Hiawatha on audiobook?)

Darren White July 2, 2017 at 9:58 AM Beautiful picture you pain there. I can see the descent, whether in reality or as metaphor. Beautiful. Agnes Krampe July 3, 2017 at 9:07 AM Thank you, Darren. I had not even though of it as metaphor... hm....

Jack Horne July 1, 2017 at 2:31 PM oh love this, especially the last line Agnes Krampe July 3, 2017 at 9:06 AM Thanks, Jack.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart July 1, 2017 at 10:02 AM Gorgeous :) xomo Agnes Krampe July 3, 2017 at 9:06 AM Thanks, Maureen.

Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 8:10 PM I love going down into caves, Mrs Gladys. Really a nice poem. As cool as that cavern:) Agnes Krampe July 1, 2017 at 9:13 AM Thanks, Daniel. It was a neat experience.

Sunlite Wanter June 30, 2017 at 6:45 PM Reminds me of some deep old classic poem. Agnes Krampe July 1, 2017 at 9:12 AM Thanks, Sunlite. That's probably because I was experimenting with meter and was trying to seee if I can write in trochaic tetrameter ;)

Jan Allison June 30, 2017 at 6:25 PM I know how you love your climbing so I can picture this so vividly Agnes:-) Such beautiful imagery:-) hugs Jan xx Agnes Krampe July 1, 2017 at 9:11 AM Thanks, Jan. We went caving last week, it was really impressive and very different from climbing above ground.

Heidi Sands June 30, 2017 at 5:45 PM Oh, this is a really neat one Agnes. Well done :) Agnes Krampe July 1, 2017 at 9:10 AM Thanks, Heidi.

Chris Green June 30, 2017 at 5:37 PM Very cool Agnes and mystical to me. This read smoothly and had a great theme. Agnes Krampe July 1, 2017 at 9:10 AM Thank you, Chris.