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In Strangler's Wood - Tanka Version

At a dead man’s throat lies the rain drenched woolen scarf that stifled his screams. Cold Winds howl through decayed trees - witnesses in the shadows.

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Arlo Parker

Date: 10/7/2022 12:27:00 AM

Haunting piece..dynamite, AD. Wow! :o)

Warren Doll

Date: 2/23/2022 3:03:00 PM

Andrea. a brilliant poem noir. I love the last line. Best~ Warren

John Watt

Date: 8/13/2020 12:00:00 PM

Wow, creepy. A rare dark write for you. Sounds like something you may have seen in a Stephen King movie?

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/13/2020 3:54:00 PM

You need to see my long version of it, John. this one was actually completely made up by ME!!

Ann Foster

Date: 7/5/2019 10:44:00 PM

So forlorn and sad. I love it. Ann

Valerie Staton

Date: 1/27/2019 7:10:00 AM

Very well written!

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/9/2018 11:34:00 PM

Awesome poem, Andrea. I'm locking my doors and staying indoors. Love it.

Luis Estable

Date: 12/7/2017 8:13:00 PM

This is quite interesting. You have a way, in this piece, of going at it. This is good writing and poetic, too. I have two book on Amazon.com: "One Hundred Sonnets, Book Two," and "Thirty Religious Sonnets. You like a copy, type the names of the books or my name Luis A. Estable. Please, pass the word! I enjoyed the reading I gave to this very much. Good stuff!

Debbie Duncan

Date: 6/17/2017 1:15:00 AM

Love this :)

Sarban Bhattacharya

Date: 9/13/2016 12:42:00 PM

This poem has a wonderful theme, Andrea. The death of the man and the cold together constitute its horrible ambience.

Francis J Grasso

Date: 6/21/2016 9:24:00 PM

I see the Tanka version now! Thanks. Been reading your latest contest entries. Where the heck to you get all that inspiration. Beautifully expressed themes in every one. Got time to look at some of your older poems right now. So many to pick from. It's late here and that is when I truly enjoy poetry. ... Fran

Francis J Grasso

Date: 6/15/2016 9:33:00 PM

This one is great! I love it! Now I have to find the original version to read! ...Fran

Karam Misra

Date: 3/19/2016 12:38:00 AM

Wow, Andrea, I am truly floored! A perfect poem so exquisitely condensed into an even more perfect tanka!

Lycia Harding

Date: 6/3/2015 12:16:00 PM

Crisp, explanatory !and easy on the ears. Very cool!

Jon A Cavanaugh

Date: 9/1/2013 4:14:00 PM

Wow! yes, I agree with Guru Jad. This is truly in the spirit of an Edgar Allan Poe poem. What a wonderful poem you have written here. Another of my favorite poets on the soup, Terry O'leary, has written poems in the spirit of Poe. I love his poems as well. I can't write poems that reach the caliber that the two of you have achieved but I am content with the poems that I have written in the spirit of Ogden Nash.

Guru Jad

Date: 4/25/2013 7:36:00 PM

One of the best poems I have read today... It oddly reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe's!!!! Maybe it is the ambiance! Still, your significant touch is present all the way from the first letter to the end! ....... One of my favourites for sure!

Phyllis Babcock

Date: 4/17/2013 10:38:00 AM

Wow this is excellent Andrea. It is going into one of my fav. AWESOME. love phyl

James Fraser

Date: 4/8/2013 3:37:00 PM

Now this is what I call poetry. It all makes perfect sense to me. Most definitely going to my fav's, and it's been a while since I added to it. Bravo 'Utah Babe' <*> James :)

Red Omara

Date: 4/7/2013 6:33:00 AM

I've faved the original. The tanka can never get near doing it justice. - Red

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 4/3/2013 3:04:00 PM

Andie you made the long version which was rhyme into a single tanka? If so lines 1 & 2 of the tanka don't make sense to me? I think you should pick another verse because I think the long version is not made better by being abbreviated, the long version is cool & really creepy cool! If it wants to be something else it doesn't scream out tanka maybe pantoum or villanelle the repetition could add to the fear? Light & Love

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 4/3/2013 3:19:00 PM

I don't understand the confusion you are having with lines one and two. however, I agree with you the tanka is not the greatest idea to morph my poem and make it any better. I was just being lazy because it's a lot of work to redo this one as a villanelle!!!

Heather Ober

Date: 4/2/2013 7:47:00 AM

WOW!!!!!! I'm adding this to my favourites, Andrea. This is a prime example of why I strive to write as skillfully as you do. If this isn't at the top of the winners list, I will be shocked!

Painted Hunter

Date: 4/1/2013 10:08:00 AM

I hadn't seen this one of yours before now...and WOW! I think it's awesome! So is it's tanka cousin...I got two for one on my fav list.

David Williams

Date: 4/1/2013 3:02:00 AM

Andrea this is a stunning write as always and it goes to the beat of the 'Thriller' song, excellent and good luck...David

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 3/31/2013 11:58:00 PM

i have to favour this one..im sure debbie likes it too dear

Richard D Seal

Date: 3/31/2013 6:22:00 PM

"I talk to the trees but they dont listen to me", "Whisperin grass don't tell the trees what the trees don't need to know", "If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big suprise" Aarrgghhh, you're telling me lol. They are both great Andrea, Good luck in the contest. Take care, Regards Richard

Jack Horne

Date: 3/31/2013 3:19:00 PM

wow, I just love this one, Andrea. Congrats on your wins too : )