The Ghost That Travels Far

There comes without a warning,
one in hooded mantle grey,
with silent footfall treading. . . 
treading nightfall into day.
An eerie mist - mysterious -
he haunts the valley floor.
He surges on through deep of night
and rolls along the shore.

And through the forest - 
pressing on -
he wraps his cloak round trees.
The wanderers in empty woods
will feel much less at ease.

Then along a wall he creeps,
or climbs a city stair.
In seconds, traffic crawls with him.
Pedestrians, take care!
For those on foot within the fringe
of Phantom’s murky cape
will sense a chill -
the apparition’s breath upon their nape.

I wonder what this specter seeks;
what answer that he needs. . .
impelling him 
                 to travel far
                         before his gloom recedes.


Previously For Thvia Shetley's 
"Clever Analogies if you please!"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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12
Gauthier Avatar
April 15, 2018 at 5:39 PM
Lovely, Andrea.
Yvonne Avatar
November 20, 2014 at 10:33 AM
Brilliant!!!!
Anglesey Avatar
July 25, 2013 at 6:56 PM
I am just going to have to go with SKAT's observation... "you rock".... Congratulations again on another winner ..Well done :)
A  Avatar
July 25, 2013 at 2:17 PM
you rock Andrea .... congrats *****SKAT
Richards Avatar
July 25, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Clever analogy indeed this is......wow, great mystery !! Congratulations!!
A   Avatar
July 24, 2013 at 8:54 PM
Hello Andrea, i remember this one from way back then... lol, i was still one of the new kids on the block... haha, i wonder why many poets entered ghostly poems. ????? Congratulations in my contest. :-) Epic, it is. <3 always & forever <3 ''LINDA
Horsman Avatar
May 30, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Oh this just gets better and better, there are poems and poems, and then some classics, this is the latter, what i love about you is, one never knows what's next
Guzzi Avatar
December 19, 2010 at 1:36 PM
OK I definitely don't get analogy!!! grrr to me, I'm fav's this write BUT Andie please school me? I thought you got 2 things which were different and showed their similarity? Congrad's Light & Love
Kendrick Avatar
December 12, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Congratulations on your win...Sara
Beck Avatar
December 1, 2010 at 11:20 AM
wonderful extended metaphor...i love this type of stuff...congratulations on a well prepared piece of work.....well deserved win
Richards Avatar
December 1, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Wonderful as always!! Congratulations Andrea!!
Devonshire Avatar
December 1, 2010 at 6:50 AM
So nice to see this poem get the recognition it deserves, Andrea. Congratulations on your top win! Love, Carolyn
Mannan Avatar
December 1, 2010 at 6:22 AM
Such wondeful analogies Andrea. Many congratulations for this yop notch.
Loving Iii Avatar
December 1, 2010 at 5:37 AM
congrads on your big win in the contest. john
Brown Avatar
December 1, 2010 at 4:57 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved win Andrea in Thvia's contest. Love, Carol
Mehta Avatar
November 30, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Andrea - Many Congrats for big win in contest.... Luv/Best wishes.....Hitendra Mehta
Sweetheart Avatar
November 30, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Congrats Andrea on your first place win in Thvia's contest with this awesome entry my friend.. enjoy your top spot win tonight with luv..
Babcock Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Ghosts, chills and apparitions' breath you have me shaking. Very visual Andrea. Excellent write. Luv Phyl
Sweetheart Avatar
November 15, 2010 at 8:43 PM
Cleverly written and cooly presented to the reader.. lots of atmosphere in this one my friend.. good luck in Thvia's contest... wow.. so many good entries for her contest..she will be busy judging luv.. good luck...
Conerly Avatar
November 15, 2010 at 2:17 PM
Great poem! I love it! I could feel it and see it! Real poetry..
K. Avatar
November 15, 2010 at 7:59 AM
Well this is clever indeed, Andrea :)-- I really liked how you described the fog over here as a ghost-- definitely gives that eerie feel to it and how fitting that I read this since I saw fog just this weekend ;) of course I was still a bit groggy since it was early morning but I loved how it looked like :) -- really like this chilly piece of yours :) --hope to see this in the winners' list :)-hugs to you sweetie -- nikko :)
A   Avatar
November 14, 2010 at 2:32 AM
is this contest over,, anyways enjoyed your entry, hope it gets solve at the end,,lol,, what ever it is what the ghost longs for,, later,..p.d.
Jennings Avatar
November 13, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Again I feel that lonliness like in your other sonnet. The analogy with the ghost, if I take it to be a relation to a certain type of person, we are the empty spectre empelled to to travel and seek. You have a talented for formed poetry that has substance. earlier comment: I relate to the seperateness you mentioned b/c I am very independant and he is very antisocial /non affectionate. Most of my writing is about loss and abandonment.
Culverhouse Avatar
November 12, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Enjoyed reading your work...
Bagnall Avatar
November 11, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Really atmospheric, a bit creepy, really enjoyed this one.
12
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