Haunted Heritage

Primeval campfire bards intone their tale
Of fairyland, where human beings dare not stray—
A nether-realm of water-sprite and fay,
Evoked by incantations and the banshee’s wail,
From out of ancient balladry, Man’s myths prevail,
As legends from a far-gone pagan day
Evolve, and make their immemorial way
Down centuries.  Old ghosts, old magic, cannot fail.
They live as fiction on the printed page, 
To thrill a reader on a winter’s night
In some Victorian book, shelved by the bed.
Such phantoms mock our glib, computer age,
Where even Science cannot point the light
To drive the cosmic specters from our head.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Smith-Johnsen Avatar
June 14, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Steve, This was a nice way to handle this challenging write. Congratulations on placing in this contest. Excellent. Lovingly, Dane"
Mason Avatar
June 12, 2009 at 8:24 AM
What an awesome write here, Steve !! And how much of so-called Myth is indeed Truth?smile ... Great win in Matt's contest ... congratulations !!
Winter Avatar
June 10, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Congrats on your win in Matt's contest! Love, Shar
Johnson Avatar
June 10, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Congratulations on your win. lA great poem. Joyce
 Avatar
June 10, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Nice use of rhyme for a creative poem. Congratulations on your sixth place finish in Matt's contest. Enjoy your honor! Keep on writing. Karen
Hudson Avatar
June 10, 2009 at 2:56 AM
Congrats on you 6th place win-AA
Reynolds Avatar
May 10, 2009 at 3:34 AM
Wow. this is awesome! i love folklore, faeries and the like, amazing rhyme ans tone, love it! Kristin
Devonshire Avatar
May 9, 2009 at 9:28 AM
What you say is so true, Steve. Interest in "Man's myths" prevails, and science cannot explain many things. This is a very astute observation in a "magical" verse! Love, Carolyn
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