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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

Date: 8/6/2018 10:15:00 PM

Love this poem, Agnes.

Eve Roper

Date: 9/25/2017 8:46:00 PM

Back to congratulate you on your win, Agnes . Hugs Eve ~`*

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/25/2017 8:02:00 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

Date: 9/25/2017 10:40:00 AM

Agnes, congratulations on your win, I recall that contest ~

Susan Ashley

Date: 9/3/2017 9:31:00 PM

Very beautifully written and completely captivating. I so enjoyed your poem Agnes. Congratulations on your win! :)

John Michaels

Date: 9/3/2017 4:08:00 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
Date: 9/3/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thank you, John.

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/2/2017 10:23:00 PM

Agnes, thank you for entering my contest, CONGRATULATIONS On your win. Janice

Agnes Krampe
Date: 9/3/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thank you very much, Janice - I am glad you liked my poem.

Winged Warrior

Date: 7/13/2017 10:33:00 AM

In the ancient wisdom of Agnes Krampe...caves are far more mysterious than we give them credit...nice one Ag...^WW^

Agnes Krampe
Date: 9/3/2017 4:47:00 PM

Thank you, ^WW^

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 7/10/2017 6:56:00 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
Date: 7/10/2017 7:47:00 PM

Thanks, Connie. Poe's Raven is trochaic octameters, so I can see why this evokes Poe (and am very flattered, LOL)

Paul Callus

Date: 7/10/2017 5:24:00 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
Date: 7/10/2017 5:59:00 PM

Thank you for your kind and thoughful comments, Paul.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 7/10/2017 7:56:00 AM

I can feel the stillness in your touching poem, Agnes:) awesome:)

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/10/2017 1:37:00 PM

Thank you, Jo.

Eve Roper

Date: 7/9/2017 1:59:00 PM

Wonderful imagery I can feel that cool stone and love the theme, Agnes ~*

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/10/2017 1:37:00 PM

Thank you, Eve.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/6/2017 11:46:00 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

Date: 7/6/2017 11:46:00 PM

Going back home soon. So probably I will not be around here for the next two days. See ya, Agnes.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/2/2017 10:48:00 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
Date: 7/3/2017 9:07:00 AM

Thank you, Andrea. I wanted to try out this particular meter (can you tell I am listening to Song of Hiawatha on audiobook?)