David Crandall Poet Terza Rima

Notes About The Poem

2/22/2026 for This or That, Vol 37 Poetry Contest sponsored by Edward Ibeh

Lupine

Step in, step in darling Elizabeth
from this black night, so eerie, dark and still. 
You look so pale, as if you're scared to death. 

Please come in from the cold and icy chill.
Welcome to our underground lupine den.
I know that your warm young blood will thrill

to know us as when there were no vile men -
ancient times, before your insipid dog 
was domesticated or put in a pen. 

Forget him, in a charmed, enchanted fog,
as you're welcomed to our society, 
outside, just beetles and a hollow log. 

My dear - you're losing your anxiety!
Now, hear our lonesome, mournful, moonward howl.
Don't let it jolt you to sobriety,

nor listen to, above, the wise old owl 
who warns you of a fate, unkind and foul.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

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

Christuraj Alex March 21, 2026 at 9:03 AM "Now, hear our lonesome, mournful, moonward howl. Don't let it jolt you to sobriety," - A very grand Terza Rima. Congratulations! David Crandall March 22, 2026 at 8:48 PM Thanks, Christuraj!

Edward Ibeh March 18, 2026 at 6:24 AM Fantastic penning, David. Loved it. I have to give this unique form a try one of these days! Heartiest congratulations on your win in my contest. David Crandall March 18, 2026 at 3:56 PM Thanks, Edward! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!

Gershon Wolf February 23, 2026 at 8:25 PM Sounds like a bunch of sex maniacs confined to a monastery for a couple of months. ~ Loopy David Crandall February 24, 2026 at 6:12 PM Because you are Mr. Wolf, I accept your analysis. It must be my subconscious speaking!

Sara Kendrick February 23, 2026 at 4:37 PM Interesting lines penned for a contest. It reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. When I saw Lupine as the title, I thought it was about a flower. Sara K David Crandall February 23, 2026 at 4:50 PM I looked up lupine and found it is also a flower. For all I know, that's what the contest is all about - lol! Well, I've already committed to wolves, so be it!

Daniel Henry Rodgers February 23, 2026 at 8:12 AM Hello David, atmospheric, cinematic piece, the terza rima flows with a dark elegance, and the tension rises line by line. A striking, immersive write. Warm blessings, David Daniel David Crandall February 23, 2026 at 4:49 PM Hi Daniel, thanks! It's my first time writing in that form, which I enjoyed. I kept thinking about different wolves: puppet wolves, the red riding hood wolf, the Tex Avery wolf, the howl of a real wolf, the Grateful Dead song, "Dire Wolf", wolves in sheeps clothing, Howling Wolf the blues singer, lycanthropes. I read the other day in the NorthEast, the coyote population DNA is up to 20 or 30 percent wolf, making the animals bigger. Wolves ise a rich subject. Maybe, I'll try it again, some day.