Home » Poems » Christina Bowring » The Haunting

The Haunting

Cold, so cold, as everything seems to enshroud me encasing light, the flame of life - darkness within. Slivers of blue, ice my lips, like a frozen lake. Am I in a nightmare - is this where realms begin? All alone, is this real - where did all this begin? Sounds - a haunting violin. Wistful melody stirring my spirit to flee as walls echo non earthly vocals from within. Then, melancholy silence, nothing to awake - old portraits of past lives frozen in time therein. In fear, I am bound in its presence and shut in. Sounds - of eerie screams within. Torn, flapping curtains are wings of omen to me; Veils of black plumage, swirl and dance to death within. My conscience not forsaken - dreams to awaken! This hellish, long nightmare - how did this all begin? Is this real? I know not within - truth kept therein. Sounds - a ghostly violin. Vibrating wind moans, groans, as I quiver to see windows reflect ghastly visions staring within. I dread the awake now as windows, doors, do shake; a chilling foreboding fills me deep from within. Then it stops, listen - tick, tick, tick! What dwells therein? Sounds - echo my heart akin. Pulsating rhythm as it resonates, flows, through me - panelled walls, chimney, all breathing, contained herein. Louder, louder, consuming me, I need to make it stop! Or, be bound to this nightmare ever within. Or reality - I know not? Must escape herein. Sounds - hollow footsteps begin. Mortal fear, frozen limbs, as these echoes draw me to eerie murmurs that haunt and dampen my skin. Dissonance sounds escalate - heart pounding, I shake; Lasting impressions floating through air and within. Doom scents the room, time to flee - save my soul within. Sounds - more frightful screams begin. Blending into shadows that become me, I flee to nevermore suffer such mad torment within. Bright orbs guides me to a passage to forsake this terrifying world of darkness and ghosts therein. Praying for salvation I announce all past sin. Sounds - reality screams within. Not alone for colourless spirits there I see with hushed, funereal tones swirling as they begin darting to, fro, with haunting faces of heartache. Wretched souls, silhouettes, of years gone, remain therein. Terror consumes me - need to leave - run from within. Sounds - no sounds - realise within. Ornate mirror hangs, cobwebs strewn, dims projection. I glance searching for a white, pallor complexion. Nothing, nothing! Horror! There is no reflection …

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Speaks Volumes

Date: 1/13/2024 4:25:00 PM

Creeeeeeeeepeeeeeeeee! The suspense building as my eyes took in the frightful tale and my heart beat to the rhythm of your words. Building to a crescendo of fear, and your conclusion so perplexing yet eerily poised for a not forthcoming finale with no reflection in the mirror being the only end. A masterpiece dear Chris.

Christina Bowring
Date: 1/14/2024 3:45:00 PM

What joy your supportive words have brought me dear SV and my page brightens more with your appearance here. Thank you immensely for your insightful, in depth response. This is probably my hardest write to date with certain complexities adhering to the restrictions of the rhyme scheme but reading such wonderful, encouraging comments from you made it all worth while. Big hugs of gratitude xx

Jack Horne

Date: 10/29/2023 6:15:00 AM

another awesome Halloween write, my friend

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 10/23/2023 11:39:00 AM

Spookily dark, eerie and scary. Excellent Christina! :)

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/23/2023 1:14:00 PM

Thank you so much dear Linda for your welcome visit and such lovely, positive feedback. So appreciated :) ‘Tis the season to be spooky ‘ my poetic friend. Still looking forward to reading your entries ;) xx

Hilda Greenhough

Date: 10/22/2023 9:38:00 PM

A scary poem that is beautiful in description.

Christina Bowring
Date: 10/23/2023 1:20:00 AM

Thank you so much Hilda for your visit. So appreciated. Wishing you a lovely week. Hugs to you.x

Hilda Greenhough

Date: 9/22/2023 2:28:00 PM

I loved this poem.

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/22/2023 3:21:00 PM

Thank you so much Hilda for your visit and leaving a lovely response. So glad you liked it. Thank you. Have a great weekend. :)

Joanna Daniel

Date: 9/19/2023 1:58:00 AM

Eerie stillness, so beautifully dark, Christina, great rhyming, a fave:)

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/19/2023 3:29:00 AM

I thank you so, so much Joanna for another very kind visit. I am so thrilled you liked the dark tale and it’s a fave for you. You made my day bright on this very dark, rainy day! Thank you. Hugs, gratitude and smiles to you. :):)

Jack Horne

Date: 9/16/2023 2:41:00 PM

oh, I LOVE this one - awesome

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/17/2023 12:16:00 PM

Thank you so much Jack! Really appreciated! :) :)

Susan Lawrence

Date: 9/16/2023 10:32:00 AM

Amazing Christina ! I agree with Susan..very Poe-esque ! My father gited me a Poe book as a child and it was one of my all time favorites ! You have captured the reader with your imagery, emotion, and the tic tic tic of time as well as the intense mystery and imagery leading up to the revelatory ending. Yes I agree I would love to read another chapter of this ! I love ~ Doom scents the room ! Wonderful writing. All the best, Susan :)

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/16/2023 12:06:00 PM

Susan, my heartfelt thanks to you for reading the poem and for your wonderful, insightful, in-depth response to the poem. You put a big smile on my face and for that I thank u greatly. I always wanted to write a ‘haunting’ poem and after studying (you are quite right) Poe’s ,The Raven’ and ‘The Tell-Tale Heart ‘ to get into character, ‘The Haunting’ began its ghostly tale. Thank you so much. Hugs and smiles :) :)

Constance La France

Date: 9/16/2023 7:28:00 AM

Christina, excellent and exceptional writing, I love everything about your haunted poem, A FAV,

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/16/2023 9:46:00 AM

Thank you so, so much Constance for your visit and leaving such wonderful, encouraging comments. I am thrilled that it is a fav for you. Thank you and smiles :):) to you. X

Sotto Poet

Date: 9/15/2023 10:34:00 AM

Your exceptional talent in artistry seamlessly weaves the verses together, evoking a powerful sense of unease and culminating in a hauntingly beautiful conclusion. It distinctly captures the essence of Edgar Allan Poe's writing style, displaying a remarkable and awe-inspiring masterpiece characterized by its dark allure. The abundant use of vivid and haunting imagery, coupled with the skillful repetition of words, intensifies the emotional impact and heightens the suspense throughout.

Susan Ashley

Date: 9/14/2023 6:12:00 PM

Dear Christina, I'm captured in the gripping depth and breadth of your masterfully composed dramatic, dynamic poem. Rich, dark imagery and emotion is enhanced by the suspenseful repetition of words like within, begin, therein, herein, and the clever use of rhyming words like violin, akin, skin... the treads of your brilliant artistry sew the stanzas together to create potent angst and an exquisitely eerie ending.. very Poe-esque! An ingenious and breathtaking masterwork of dark beauty. You have my admiration, dear poetess! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/15/2023 6:48:00 AM

Dear Susan, I thank you so greatly for your wonderful, uplifting, in-depth and insightful response to the poem. I was so thrilled to read it this morning and it made such a happy start to the day. Thank you so much to you, an incredible poet, for the encouragement. Hugs and smiles to you. :):)

Deb M

Date: 9/14/2023 9:53:00 AM

Oh my Christina….what a wonderful, clever, scary goosebumpy write!! What an amazing poet you are!! Excellent….Debx

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/14/2023 11:26:00 AM

Hello Deb. Thank you so much my lovely for your visit and so wonderful, generous comments. Yes, quite a scary one this one (says someone who’s scared of most horror films and hides!!) I can’t wait to read all the Halloween poems that I know will be on here shortly! Thank you so much again. Hugs to you. Xx

Nancy Kaufman

Date: 9/14/2023 5:04:00 AM

WOW so well crafted. This poem was so suspenseful and captivates the reader. I read it out loud and felt like I was auditioning for a theatre production for a haunting. It was Super scary. May I ask you how many days did it take to pen this very impressive piece?

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 9/18/2023 6:43:00 AM

It was most impressive Christina and you should be proud of what you have accomplished. Awesome write. Thanks for your feedback as well.

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/14/2023 10:21:00 AM

Thank you so, so much Nancy for your truly wonderful comments. I am so elated and really made my day! I am quite theatrical and love the theatre so thrilled to know that you read it aloud (there are a few good haunting stage productions over here at the moment,) I tend to write in stages or when it grabs me (sometimes in the middle of the night!) and I am a perfectionist so in truth, took me quite a few days. I restricted myself a bit with the rhyme scheme( I followed Poe’s The Raven but went further and rhymed top lines as well) so found it quite a hard write- but I got there! Thank you so much again for the inspiring encouragement. Hugs and smiles to you xx :):)

Charles Messina

Date: 9/13/2023 7:53:00 PM

Ooh...Chills (lol) Thanks for sharing this very well written poem with us, Christina. Awesome write! Also, thanks for stopping by and commenting on my page...much appreciated :) Hugs to you...and Welcome to PS.. Charlie

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/14/2023 1:21:00 AM

My grateful thanks to you Charlie for your visit and much appreciated comments.Thank you! I look forward to reading more of your work. Hugs and smiles :):)

Silent One

Date: 9/13/2023 4:30:00 AM

This is a eerie writing at the best. From the use of your words and how you have formatted it, the readers feels chills.. Dark poetry with poetic expressions which add to this like, Ornate mirror hangs, cobwebs strewn, dims projection and as walls echo non earthly vocals from within. Are some the vivid lines in your poem... Excellent penning.

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/13/2023 9:11:00 AM

Hello SO. Heartfelt thanks to you for reading the poem and leaving such an in-depth, wonderful response. Thank you so much. Made my day. Blessings to you.

Dave Cox

Date: 9/12/2023 10:29:00 PM

Fantastic poem. Just a fantastic poem. Dave Cox

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 11:28:00 PM

Thank you so much Dave for your visit and leaving such a lovely comment. Much appreciated. Have a great day! :)

Jasen Ridley

Date: 9/12/2023 5:28:00 AM

This is amazing!! Absolutely wonderful work of art I love how descriptive this is. Amazingly talented writer

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 8:50:00 AM

Hello Jasen. Thank you so gratefully for reading the poem and thrilling comments. Made my day. So kind. I look forward to reading more of your work :)

Robert Lindley

Date: 9/12/2023 5:03:00 AM

I came back to read this gem yet again, so much beauty to absorb! I am pondering composing today and that poem just may be a dark one. Thus, I am looking for a bit of inspiration my good friend. And this superbly crafted gem will give me that inspiration. That ending floored me."" Nothing, nothing! Horror! There is no reflection …God bless you..

Robert Lindley
Date: 9/15/2023 3:52:00 PM

Well, my good friend, we poets that live poetry want you to gift us more gems! We are sure that you have more hidden within your gold pen... Lets , together sling more ink. God bless you.

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 9:28:00 AM

A much welcome return my talented friend. I am still so thrilled and honoured by your encouragement with this particular piece dear Robert. I can honestly tell you that it wasn’t just me who created this but all of you- my incredible talented, poetic friends. I’m so inspired by you all that I strived to improve and this, so far, is the result! So a big heartfelt thanks to you all. Ooh…I will check out your page for more masterpieces of which will inspire me! Bless you.

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 9/12/2023 3:09:00 AM

This is so eerie dear Christina...You are extremely talented in capturing the reader's attention with your descriptive pen. You took me through this haunting journey where after each stanza I was wondering what would happen next...An excellent narrative, I would say. Loved the way you added the details about the sound....Hugs...~ Ani

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 9:15:00 AM

Dear Ani thank you so, so much for your wonderful response. Such lovely comments of which I am extremely grateful. It is a haunting, eerie piece and I am glad that you liked it. Love and hugs to you. Xx

Karen Croft

Date: 9/11/2023 4:12:00 PM

Love this! Such detail and excitement!

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 8:52:00 AM

Thank you so much Karen! I’m thrilled that you loved it. Such encouraging words from you that I am so grateful to receive. Blessings to you.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/11/2023 3:20:00 PM

ooh, what an ending. you became a spirit. This has lots of awesome imagery like a Poem by Poe! Loved this part: Pulsating rhythm as it resonates, flows, through me - panelled walls, chimney, all breathing

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 9:07:00 AM

Hello Andrea. Thank you so much for your valued, insightful response to the poem. Yes- I became and was a spirit! (unfortunately not a happy conclusion I fear) I studied a few pieces of Poe’s work (The Raven mostly) to get me into the mindset of dark atmosphere. etc before this poem took to life (or death!) My grateful thanks to you for your valued encouragement. :):)

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/12/2023 9:06:00 AM

Hello Andrea. Thank you so much for your valued, insightful response to the poem. Yes- I became and was a spirit! (unfortunately not a happy conclusion I fear) I studied a few pieces of Poe’s work (The Raven mostly) to get me into the mindset of dark atmosphere etc before this poem took to life (or death!) My grateful thanks to you for your valued encouragement. :):)

David Fisher

Date: 9/10/2023 4:57:00 PM

Truly enjoyed this wonderful poem that makes my chest tight and nervous, yet yearning for more, which is delivered! And am so impressed with your skill of saying so much while using a concise number of words.

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/11/2023 1:40:00 AM

David, I thank you greatly for your visit and wonderful, encouraging comments. So grateful! I am delighted that you enjoyed this ghostly tale. Wishing you a wonderful, creative week ahead.

I Am Anaya

Date: 9/10/2023 3:40:00 PM

Chilling, I hear the ghostly violin it's screeches!...an erie nightmare indeed. Written in the spirit of a haunting dream, I used to have those...half asleep I heard myself praying.. erie driven to madness..eh. Very cinematic, Christina

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/11/2023 1:33:00 AM

Thank you so much Anaya for reading the poem and your lovely comments. Nightmares can be terrifying. Thankfully, I don’t suffer from them too many times. I hope you don’t too. Blessings to you.

Terry Flood

Date: 9/10/2023 2:36:00 PM

Stand aside, Stephen King, there’s a new horror maestro on the block. Christina, WOW! if this is truly your first attempt at this dark style/genre then I can only wait with baited breath for your next macabre endeavour. Brilliantly composed and riveting. Terry

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/11/2023 5:19:00 AM

Terry, I am so thrilled with your comments and will be elated all day! Thank you so.so much for this wonderful encouragement. Yes, this really is my first attempt at dark style genre but with the incredible support I have received of which I am so grateful , I don’t think it will be my last! Here’s to another dark tale! Have a lovely week. :)

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 9/10/2023 12:47:00 PM

This dark poem resonates horror, foreboding and desperation. The imagery is absolutely stunning. A magnificent piece, Christina. :)

Christina Bowring
Date: 9/10/2023 1:24:00 PM

Dear Evelyn, my grateful thanks to you for reading the poem.Your generous comments both equally inspire and encourage me. Blessings to you for a wonderful week ahead. :)