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The Enlightening

The graveyard, shrouded in pale mist, so hauntingly eerie, dampen spirits as the full moon loses her glow - dreary! I float, like a vapour, amongst lifeless, inky shadows; solitary yew tree, groaning with age, as the wind blows. A ravens cold, chilling stare, shoots shivers within my soul as I glance at fresh earthly mounds next to an empty hole. Decaying flowers, leaves, disfigures forlorn, relic graves as melancholy whistling heralds me in mournful waves. I wander past headstones sheathed in mould, epitaphs long gone, This sacred place seems familiar to me as night draws on. Movement beyond a mausoleum - am I all alone? I feel I am being beckoned to something to be shown. Hypnotic, ethereal sounds now on this Halloween Eve - I am guided to a grave where I shall lay down and grieve. For, as I kneel against sodden turf, horror upon face, An inscription enlightens me - I dwell - at this resting place!

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Susan Ashley

Date: 2/9/2024 6:47:00 PM

Dear Christina, sweet friend and soulful poetess, my imagination melted easily into the potent melancholy imagery of your creative poem. Your poetic artistry shines in the vivid depths of the dark verses leading us to "the enlightening". Your last four lines provide an amazing twist and a grand finale to an exquisite and expressive piece. The last line has the WOW! factor that jars the emotions. A soul unable/unwilling to cross over is a sad soul indeed. You inspire me, my dear friend. Ever your admirer, warmest wishes and hugs.. ~Susan

Christina Bowring
Date: 2/11/2024 7:35:00 AM

Dear sweet Susan, such immense joy to see you grace the page here. As always, your insightful, thoughtful and generous comments are a treasure to behold. I’m always in awe not just of your immense talent for writing poetry but also for your understanding of it as well. Heartfelt thank you to you always and for being one of my biggest inspirations. Blessings and hugs to you my poetic heroine xx

Speaks Volumes

Date: 1/13/2024 3:49:00 PM

A realisation with monumental effect. The epic descriptions of the cemetery are morose Chris, and exceedingly effective. Will I say enjoyed? No appreciated is more apt for this one. Its artfully crafted.

Christina Bowring
Date: 1/14/2024 3:29:00 PM

Dear sweet SV, thank you for reading this one especially as I know it’s a bit on the ‘dark’ side and wouldn’t be your usual subject matter :) So delighted to read the comments and made me smile too. Thank you for the encouragement. I must confess, I quite enjoyed writing this one for a contest . Hugs to you xx

Hilo Poet

Date: 11/6/2023 12:07:00 AM

It truly is a mesmerizing composition as the involving theme resurrects itself, time and again, Christina. The way it reaches out to the reader gives me no surprise for you to achieve the affection of Tania and be a recipient in her contest, my friend! Aloha, William

Christina Bowring
Date: 11/6/2023 6:44:00 AM

Thank you so much for your welcome visit and such a wonderful response to the poem. Such warm, generous comments that are truly appreciated. I look forward to reading more of yours my talented friend. Aloha William and blessings :):)

Constance La France

Date: 11/4/2023 12:40:00 PM

Christina, your poem is excellent, your writing is breathtaking, I was with you as you walked in that cemetery, wandering "past headstones sheathed in mould, epitaphs long gone" a fav for me and congratulations on your win in Tania's contest, blessings !

Christina Bowring
Date: 11/5/2023 5:39:00 AM

Thank you so much Constance for visiting and leaving such wonderful comments and an uplifting response. I’m equally thrilled and honoured that is a fav for you and appreciate it immensely. Made my day so thank you so much! Be back to visit you for more inspiration very soon. Hugs and smiles to you xx:):)

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 11/3/2023 4:57:00 PM

Walking your haunt! Congratulations, Christina!

Christina Bowring
Date: 11/4/2023 1:04:00 AM

Thank you so much Kim for your very appreciated visit and comments. I really enjoyed entering my first contest! Have a lovely weekend xx :):)

Terry Flood

Date: 11/2/2023 4:09:00 PM

I’m not surprised to find this in the winners list. Enjoyed my first read and enjoyed this chance for a re-read. Congratulations, Christina

Christina Bowring
Date: 11/2/2023 4:14:00 PM

Thank you so much my lovely, funny, talented friend. Means a lot! I’m coming over to your page right now to congratulate you …

Tania Kitchin

Date: 11/2/2023 4:00:00 PM

Christina, a great spooky Halloween poem, love the imagery, congratulations on your winning placement!

Christina Bowring
Date: 11/2/2023 4:10:00 PM

Thank you so much Tania and I’m equally honoured and delighted to be placed in you contest. It’s my very first one so has given me great encouragement. Really enjoyed it! Thank you and for your hard work running it. Hugs and smiles :))

Bill Baker

Date: 10/30/2023 12:45:00 AM

Very engaging and interesting poetry, Christina. I really like the ending to this poem. The imagery was exquisite. A poet friend in Texas, Bill

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/30/2023 2:40:00 PM

Dear Bill thank you so much for your valued visit and thoughtful comments. I’m so glad that you liked the ending my lovely, poetic friend. Thank you. Hugs and blessings to you :)

Sally Eslinger

Date: 10/29/2023 11:27:00 AM

Wow, Christina! This is creepy, scary, but i really enjoyed it. Very smooth of course at Halloween, the end was expected, but you wrote it with a superb fresh lead -up freshness. BOOming sweet pen! Applause!

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/30/2023 2:24:00 PM

Thank you so much Sally for your truly lovely visit and response. I was thrilled to read your thoughtful comments and very appreciative. Thank you so much. Blessings and smiles to you :):)

Jack Horne

Date: 10/29/2023 6:10:00 AM

oh, love this spooky one

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/29/2023 1:54:00 PM

Thank you so much Jack for your visit and for reading ‘The Haunting ‘ as well.So appreciated. I’m so glad you liked them! Fun to write. Happy Halloween my friend. Have a great week :):)

I Am Anaya

Date: 10/27/2023 10:23:00 AM

A haunting and eerie masterpeice, Christina. Perfect for the Halloween-spirit. I am honored to read you. It was scary being at the mausoleum with you! :) Xhugs ~Anaya

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/27/2023 1:25:00 PM

Thank you so much dear Anaya for your welcome visit and leaving such lovely, generous comments. So thrilled to read your encouraging response and made my day. So appreciated. I look forward to reading more of your wonderful poems as you are so talented. Hugs and smiles to you for a lovely weekend. Xx:):)

Terry Flood

Date: 10/24/2023 3:41:00 PM

Very much enjoyed this, Christina. A perfect Halloween story. Terry

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/25/2023 1:12:00 PM

Thank you so much for your visit and comments Terry. So glad you enjoyed it :) Thank you! Look forward to reading more of yours :)

Charlie Mackenzie

Date: 10/23/2023 9:41:00 PM

I was looking for Halloween inspired poems and this one didn't disappoint. I especially like the line 'as melancholy whistling heralds me in mournful waves'

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 1:21:00 AM

Thank you so much Charlie for your visit and such lovely, encouraging comments. So pleased. Thank you. I’m looking forward to reading more Halloween poems myself too. Blessings to you. :)

Eve Roper

Date: 10/23/2023 7:50:00 PM

Great Halloween imagery of eerie scene. Enjoyed reading this well-crafted poem.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 1:17:00 AM

Eve- many thanks to you for reading the poem and taking the time to leave lovely comments of which I am truly grateful. So appreciative for the support. Blessings to you. :)

The Situation

Date: 10/23/2023 7:19:00 PM

Ghostly I must admit. But it takes their point of view which we can imagine if we've seen ghost. I am among relatives that have seen ghost.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 1:46:00 AM

Thank you for your welcome visit and leaving valuable comments. I too, have had a couple of relatives that have seen their own passed on relatives. I haven’t personally myself although I have ‘sensed ‘ things like something rushing back me, smell of burning etc when I was a young girl working in a nursing home. Had some unsettling experiences and there were parts of the house that I didn’t want to hang around there too long on my own. Blessings to you.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/23/2023 6:43:00 PM

Perfect timing, perfect ending to this Halloween tale, Christina.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 1:12:00 AM

Thank you so much for reading the poem Gershon and for your encouraging comments. So appreciated. Have a lovely day. I look forward to visiting you again soon.

David Fisher

Date: 10/23/2023 5:05:00 PM

Ah-ha! What a great ending to a haunting tale that sets the mood of a good scare. I like how the commas accentuate the descriptions.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 1:57:00 AM

David, my heartfelt thanks to you for reading the poem and leaving such thoughtful, insightful comments. Thank you for noticing the commas and the effect it has on the descriptions. I read my poems out loud several times on the final draft before I’m hopefully satisfied with their completion (hard critic on myself) and that was my intention. So I was so pleased to read that. Blessings to you.

Paige Hind

Date: 10/23/2023 4:44:00 PM

This is ironic and haunting, Christina. I enjoyed reading it!

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 1:14:00 AM

Hello Paige. My grateful thanks to you for your visit and comments. I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem. Thank you. Smiles to you :):)

Maria Fernandez-Garcia

Date: 10/23/2023 3:27:00 PM

Christina, this poem, deep and unique, reminds me an abandoned abbey, next to a cementery. I must say that this story makes me think about the place where everybody of us will be one day. The mist, rain and the crows are next to our soul. Unbelievable poem Chris. Once again, I must take my hat off. We are nearly Halloween time and this poem recreates this day, and not only that, but the truth to be faced sooner or later. Late as possible, please. Enchanted about your writing. Have a nice evening!

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/24/2023 4:04:00 AM

Dear Maria hello my sweet friend. Thank you greatly for your much welcomed visit and leaving such wonderful, uplifting comments. So grateful for your time and thoughts. Means a lot. Thank you so much. Blessings to you and hugs for a lovely day xx :):)

Len Gasun

Date: 10/23/2023 8:59:00 AM

You're a very talented poet my dear poet friend Christina. Another exceptional piece of yours through this haunting story poem. I extremely ejoyed reading it. I'm so impressed with your creativity giving your story a suspense, motion/sound effects and twist. Thank you so much for sharing and best wishes always. God bless. Hugs

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/26/2023 9:47:00 AM

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/23/2023 10:00:00 AM

Dear Len, what a lovely visit from you my sweet friend. Gosh- thank you, thank you for such generous, thoughtful words from your kind heart. I’m humbled and very appreciative. You have made my day with your kindness. Thank you for your valued thoughts and support. Means so much. I’ll be back to visit you again very shortly with pleasure. Sending you love and hugs xx:):)

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 10/23/2023 4:50:00 AM

Christina, your Halloween poem is a mesmerizing and evocative piece of writing. The imagery is haunting and atmospheric, and the mood is perfectly captured. I especially appreciate the way you use sound effects to create a sense of suspense and mystery. The poem is a truly unique and memorable experience and has shades of Poe all over it.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/23/2023 10:04:00 AM

Daniel, thank you so, so much for your visit and leaving such insightful, thoughtful comments. I was so thrilled to read them and your response bought joy. I’m also delighted that you sensed a bit of Poe throughout it as I have been reading some of his poems (to get the feel and mindset) and he has great influence on many who read his work. Thank you. I look forward to enjoying more of your amazing poetry :) :)

Lisa Ricci

Date: 10/23/2023 4:09:00 AM

Good Morning Christina. Hello. Your entry is poetry in the truest fashion. Never did you stray from the title. You allow the reader to pause as we read on with your vivid chosen words and expressions not to mention the place and time that you brought us to. Be very proud of your execution in its entirety. This is an entry to be read out loud with emphasis and feeling. Have a wonderful day. Blessings always (smile)

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/23/2023 8:32:00 AM

Dear Lisa, hello my sweet, poetic friend. My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to you for your welcome visit. Your valuable, thoughtful consideration for the poem warmed my heart. Such lovely, uplifting encouragement. Thank you so much. Warmly received always. Hugs and smiles to you xx:):)

Joseph May

Date: 10/22/2023 3:49:00 PM

A chilling ending to this well crafted write Christina, best wishes

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/23/2023 1:09:00 AM

Thank you so much Joseph for reading the poem and leaving much appreciated comments of which are gratefully received. Wishing you a lovely week. :)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 10/22/2023 12:58:00 PM

Now THAT is how to write like Poe. Excellent.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/22/2023 2:23:00 PM

Dear Andrea - thank you! So thrilled to receive your comments. Delighted :) Great encouragement and inspiration to write more of this genre. Much gratitude and hugs to you x

John Gondolf

Date: 10/22/2023 12:36:00 PM

You set an eerie mood with your wonderful imagery, Christina. The enlightenment has a chilling end. Nicely done my friend. Hugs, John

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/22/2023 2:15:00 PM

My grateful thanks to you John my lovely friend for reading the poem and I loved reading your comments. So encouraging and appreciated. Thank you! Hugs and smiles to you for a wonderful, happy week ahead. :):)