Home » Poems » Andrea Dietrich » In Strangler's Wood Repost

Notes About The Poem

A Soup poet friend of mine very sweetly showed me his recitation of my old poem "In Strangler's Wood" this week. I finally was able to get his reading of it put onto the poem (and will put it with this repost as well). He used voice changer and eerie sounds. I am not allowed to say his name. For some reason, he wishes to remain anonymous. I told him he sounded kind of like Vincent Price!

In Strangler's Wood Repost

Listen to poem:

In forest's night, the trees bend low
beneath a slice of half moon’s glow;
          silent shadows waver there,
          chilled by gusts of autumn air.

Quavering, as if afraid,
they fall on stumps from trees decayed.
     Among those stumps the shadows creep
     and shroud a form that seems asleep.

Lightning flashes . . . Thunder peals.
A sight forlorn the light reveals -
          a man, quite dead, in woolen coat,
          with scarf of death left on his throat.

The shadows saw, and now they quake,
lone witnesses in murder’s wake.
     They cannot speak, but if they could,
     they’d tell all travelers of the wood:

"We’re not the foe.  It’s one of you
that makes us tremble as we do.
          Although we loom and cause you fear,
          something worse is lurking here."

Then Thunder echoes in accord
as from the sky, cold rain is poured.
     And silent shadows start to shrink
     into a night of blackened ink.

Date: 2/9/2010

mysteryrhyme

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

Kathryn Collins

Date: 7/10/2021 7:38:00 PM

Hello again Andrea. Been too long. This my old friend is a soul shaker. Both to read and hear. I loved your indenting of the last lines in each verse. Just so perfect. Xo

Terry Flood

Date: 7/8/2021 3:18:00 PM

Glad you reposted this chilling tale, Andrea, as I had missed it first time around. Just one thing... can I come out from behind the sofa now? ;-) Terry

John Watt

Date: 6/29/2021 2:29:00 PM

It was fun to see this spooky gem of yours reposted and hear it read with the sound effects and deep eerie voice. Kudos to both of you!

Scott Thirtyseven

Date: 6/28/2021 3:49:00 AM

Great poem Andrea. Really enjoyed the foreboding feel.

Brian Sambourne

Date: 6/27/2021 7:57:00 PM

A truly superb poem, remarkable in intensity + verse. I especially enjoyed the sonorous reading of the piece that gave it added power + eerieness. Congratulations on a stellar write! Best wishes, Brian

Bryan Norton

Date: 6/26/2021 4:44:00 PM

What a wonderful, world-class, chilling poem. I loved it. One thing I have noticed, which it doesn't seem like you get credit for, is that you often tell stories in your poems. These are my favorite kinds of poems. You do them so well. Later, alligator.

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 6/25/2021 9:55:00 PM

Hello Andrea … suitable to listen to on a stormy night. I dare say all entry points to the house would be securely locked - a riveting repost Andrea - Lindsay

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 6/25/2021 7:37:00 AM

Wow this is a great repost of yours dear Ria... I loved listening to the audio too... those eerie sounds.. great spooky imagery you created sweet friend... Enjoyed reading... Hugs... ~ Ani

Supraja Kannan

Date: 6/25/2021 1:15:00 AM

A great repost, Andrea... Thank you for sharing your old gem... Lovely read and the audio is also very nice... Thanks for sharing...

Harry Horsman

Date: 6/24/2021 9:04:00 PM

Eerie mystic vocal, enhanced by your wonderful poetry Andrea. Sound English to me, with a touch of northern soul. Stay safe my friend.. Harry

Joanna Daniel

Date: 6/24/2021 8:01:00 AM

Great mysterious poem and a wonderful recitation, Andrea:)

Vijay Pandit

Date: 6/24/2021 5:11:00 AM

Wonderful images, Andrea--a bit spooky. Great audio!

Rama Balasubramanian

Date: 6/24/2021 4:45:00 AM

Wonderful write. Glad you reposted, enjoyed the audio too. Your poems are too good. You are a great poet none can deny. Have a wonderful day ahead friend.