The Dark Side of October

The Dark Side of October

Late October moon is waking, through this cemetery shaking,
shaking as the cold wind breaking, walking ‘neath an old oak tree.
Stones like sentries undertaking, guarding graves as hearts are aching,
aching for the still ones staking, such an eerie sight to see –
dark and dreary, I’m so leery, such an eerie sight to see –
     is this but a reverie?

In the graveyard shadows shimmer, dark of night is growing dimmer,
dimmer still without a glimmer, shadows ‘round the old oak tree.
Shadows dancing ever nearer, nearer still and getting clearer,
clearer like distorted mirror, twisting ghastly sight to see –
growing vastly, looming lastly, such a ghastly sight to see –
     certainly a reverie?

Piercing sounds are penetrating, ear drums deafening pulsating,
ringing louder, devastating, echoes off the old oak tree.
Echoes bouncing screeching grating, ever louder agitating,
instigating, fears creating, from this ghoulish sight to see –
Am I mulish, maybe foolish, such a ghoulish sight to see –
     surely just a reverie?

In the dark my head is spinning, round and round these sights imprinting,
fusing on my brain beginning, questioning my sanity.
All these sights and sounds are weighing, weighing as the ghouls are playing
playing as they do their preying, preying on my vanity –
I am praying, ghouls are swaying, preying on my vanity –
     have I lost my sanity?

Eerie night just seems persisting, lasting as my mind is twisting,
waiting for daylight’s assisting, lighting up the old oak tree.
Eerie sights and sounds now fading, dark of night for daylight trading,
light of day is now invading, leaving me to clearly see –
seeing nearly, life so dearly, oh so clearly now I see –
     must have been a reverie….. 
         or have I lost my sanity?



July 26, 2018
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018


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Date: 10/6/2022 9:05:00 AM
This is such an interesting poem, very alliterative. We the readers are caught by the charm of your word play. I have read your poem- 'Like A Book' and have fallen in love with it.The eerie atmosphere you have created here is baffling and the style is so different ! You are indeed so gifted. Congratulations John on your win.
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John Gondolf
Date: 10/6/2022 6:25:00 PM
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for reading my poetry, Valsa, I appreciate it so much. John
Date: 10/6/2022 6:08:00 AM
Well,John….. this one is just fantastic. I could feel such panic arising. Kudos on your writing of this and for your excellent placement. My little offering to the contest seems like a wisp in comparison. Lol SuZ
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John Gondolf
Date: 10/6/2022 6:24:00 PM
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comments, Suzanne, I’m glad you enjoyed it. John
Date: 10/5/2022 12:36:00 AM
Excellent wordplay, the 1st and 2nd stanzas grab you right away… this is the perfect preface to lead in to a Tim Burton movie. Very well thought out John.
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John Gondolf
Date: 10/5/2022 2:15:00 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Mark, I appreciate it. This poem took me a good bit of time to write with all the internal rhyming. I was was trying to follow the meter of “The Raven.”
Date: 9/1/2020 8:09:00 AM
I was looking for lying in the shadows and came across this instead. Wow. You write poetry in such different styles and form, can hardly believe its the same author. The rhythm of the poem evokes the sensation of rising panic perfectly. Reading the poem was as close to experiencing what the poem was describing as it gets. Masterpiece
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John Gondolf
Date: 9/1/2020 9:14:00 AM
Thank you, Tansy. I like to challenge myself once in a while. Sometimes it can be difficult with so many internal rhymes; this poem actually took about 8 hours to write. This is written in the same meter as "The Raven" by Poe. I have another one that I wrote about a month ago "Forever in Delirium" that is written in the same meter. John
Date: 6/28/2019 8:00:00 PM
It is a delight to return and enjoy this amazing poem once again, John. Congratulations on your excellent win. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan
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John Gondolf
Date: 6/29/2019 10:24:00 AM
Thank you so much, Susan, I appreciate your warm wished. John
Date: 6/26/2019 12:40:00 PM
I remember reading this remarkable poem, but where is my comment John?? Congratulations on your very deserving win my friend. I loved this. xxoo
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John Gondolf
Date: 6/26/2019 12:54:00 PM
Thank you, Connie, I appreciate thoughts. I never delete comments so I don't know what happened to yours. all the best my friend. John
Date: 12/6/2018 10:45:00 PM
You have succeeded my friend, on creating an amazing Poe like poem. :) I remember reading this. Congratulations John, on this win. ~ Brandy
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John Gondolf
Date: 12/7/2018 4:20:00 AM
Thank you for your kind words, Brandy, I appreciate it. John
Date: 12/6/2018 10:17:00 PM
I love your motivation for this poem and congratulations on your win.
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John Gondolf
Date: 12/6/2018 10:26:00 PM
Thank you, Miranda, I appreciate it. John
Date: 12/6/2018 6:28:00 PM
Best wishes and sincere congrats on your win in Nina's contest, John - blessings to you and yours for a joyous holiday season, my friend! :-)
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John Gondolf
Date: 12/6/2018 8:28:00 PM
Thanks, Greg, I appreciate it. Happy holidays to you and your family as well. John
Date: 12/6/2018 6:19:00 PM
CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win, John. This is GREAT! Janice
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John Gondolf
Date: 12/6/2018 8:15:00 PM
Thank you, Janice, I appreciate it. John
Date: 8/22/2018 11:36:00 AM
Absolutely spectacular to read, very enchanting! Well done!
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John Gondolf
Date: 8/22/2018 11:57:00 AM
Thank you so much, Anastasia, I appreciate your comments and visit. I'm glad you enjoyed my eerie poem. John
Date: 8/12/2018 6:44:00 PM
Fantastic imagery and rhyme, John, congratulations on an excellent win! Hugs Eve
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John Gondolf
Date: 8/12/2018 7:07:00 PM
Thank you so much, Eve, I appreciate it. John
Date: 8/11/2018 8:52:00 PM
Oh I like this!! Great rhymes and imagery. Congratulations on your #1 win. A fav for me. Enjoyed.
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John Gondolf
Date: 8/11/2018 9:19:00 PM
Thank you, Susan, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the fav. John
Date: 8/10/2018 2:15:00 PM
John congratulations on your win in my contest with this beautifully penned piece!
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John Gondolf
Date: 8/10/2018 2:19:00 PM
Thank you, Constance, and thanks for hosting the contest. John
Date: 8/9/2018 9:59:00 PM
John, your excellently expressed poem is deep, dark and eerily moody.. Congratulations on your wonderful win! Warmest wishes always my friend.. ~Susan
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John Gondolf
Date: 8/9/2018 10:14:00 PM
Thank you for your wonderful comments, Susan, I appreciate it. Best wishes. John
Date: 8/9/2018 9:01:00 PM
Haunting poesy, masterfully composed, John: A well-deserved win for you in the contest. Best wishes, Gershon
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John Gondolf
Date: 8/9/2018 9:46:00 PM
Thanks, Gershon, I appreciate it. John
Date: 7/29/2018 6:36:00 AM
such a spooky poem John I love the impact of the repeated lines:-) hugs Jan xx
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John Gondolf
Date: 7/29/2018 7:07:00 AM
Thank you, Jan, I think the repeated lines keeps the poem flowing and keeps the reader interested, I think it’s called chain verse. Thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed it. John
Date: 7/27/2018 8:29:00 PM
Ahhh, I see you did a Poe type poem here! I remember a contest once where we had to mimic this style. You did it very well!!! Love that ending!
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John Gondolf
Date: 7/27/2018 8:41:00 PM
Thank you, Andrea, I appreciate it; glad you enjoyed it. John
Date: 7/27/2018 7:38:00 PM
Fantastic! A poe-like poetic thrill of words! Love this! Fave, dear John!
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John Gondolf
Date: 7/27/2018 8:09:00 PM
Thank you, Kim, I appreciate it. I was channeling Poe on this one, I’m glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the fav! John
Date: 7/26/2018 2:49:00 PM
Yes, it is getting close to that time of year. This would make a great Halloween poem. Eerie, and so creepy. You have set the mood perfectly. Don't let lack of comments get you down, as your words have touched the page, and that is what matters. Your thoughts have been set free. ~ Brandy
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John Gondolf
Date: 7/26/2018 3:53:00 PM
Thank you, Brandy, I had intended to hold this poem a couple months before posting it, perhaps I would have more reads if I had held it a while. John
Date: 7/26/2018 10:22:00 AM
Wow! John, What a dark and spooky poem you have penned. Your skillful pen created such riveting imagery. It put in the mind of a Halloween write. I enjoyed it very much. As always excellent job. P.S, I hope to see you soon:-) Alexis
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John Gondolf
Date: 7/26/2018 10:48:00 AM
Thank you for your wonderful comments, Alexis, I felt like this was a pretty good poem but no one has had much to say about it. Thanks for your support my friend. John
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