Daniel Turner Poet Sonnet

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Awakened before dawn, I gasped for breath
A sound of dark foreboding breaks the still
Outside, the unrelenting, "song of death"
That soul collector, singing, " whip-poor-will" 

Before twilight, he lands high in the pine
His feathers tan and brown, his neck plumes  white
In repetitious cries that chill the spine
He calls lost souls to him before first light

And though no souls may come, he sings his song
So maddening, it makes the weary weep
His tax upon the living until dawn
The only payment he accepts is sleep

I hope the morning finds him a new tree
Someplace, far, far away, from sleeping me


   June 30-2017 
Any poem contest

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Alfred Berggren July 21, 2017 at 8:21 AM Can be quite maddening. Hope he took your wish and flew away. Daniel Turner July 21, 2017 at 10:10 AM Thank you, Alfred and yes he did:)

Wayne Underwood July 16, 2017 at 11:16 PM Daniel, well done. Reminded me of my fishing trips, waking up getting out the tent and adoring all the beauty. Wayne Daniel Turner July 21, 2017 at 10:10 AM Thank you, Wayne. It's not so bad if one is camping or performing some outdoor activity but not when I'm sleeping:)

Maria Williams July 11, 2017 at 8:05 AM I've never heard this bird's call, but I'm sure it wont be a pleasant one at 4 am. 'Makes the Weary Weep', I'm sure it would. Daniel I love this sonnet of yours...Maria Daniel Turner July 11, 2017 at 8:11 AM Listen to it on youtube:) Thank you Maria. I always enjoy your company:)

Sunita U.D Palawon July 5, 2017 at 11:42 AM This is a wonderful poem Daniel. The bird of ill omen...but poor bird! :D I really enjoyed your sonnets and admire the way you manage to take this form. Keep it Up!:) Daniel Turner July 7, 2017 at 10:32 AM Thank you, Sunita. I do love writing sonnets:)

Janis Medders Tobechi July 1, 2017 at 3:40 PM Daniel, this is a FAVE I love it. Edgar Allan Poe style. Reminds me of the Raven. Good job. Also, I hate that bird too. Daniel Turner July 3, 2017 at 2:22 PM Thank you, Mrs Janis. So glad you liked it:)

Tim Smith June 30, 2017 at 1:15 PM Stopped back to wish you a great weekend and happy fourth. Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 10:06 PM Thanks, Tim. Be careful if you and your kids are going to shoot fireworks. Have fun!!!

Sara Kendrick June 30, 2017 at 10:35 AM I like to hear the Whip-O-Will sing his song..It is mostly heard at the beginning of night here and sometimes in the morning but that is rare..We have had a family of them here that sing at night since we first moved here..I enjoyed reading your work..Thanks for the visits to my page..Sara Sharon Gulley July 7, 2017 at 9:37 AM I too love the whip-o-will's song, takes me back to childhood days when they would sing just before dark. A wonderful write Daniel. : ) Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 10:06 PM I love the lonesome sound but not at 4 AM:) Thank you, Mrs Sara. It's always a pleasure to have you visit:)

Jerry T Curtis June 30, 2017 at 5:32 AM Beautiful Daniel, We have Ring-necked doves that coo and to me It's quiet a haunting sound. Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 9:23 AM Jerry, they're real easy to clean and they taste scrumptious:) Thank you for dropping by to read and comment:)

Jun Gonzales June 29, 2017 at 11:50 PM Nice sonnet Daniel. Our neighbor also has a different kind of bird that sings at unholy hours - it is called a karaoke. :) Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 9:22 AM LOL Bummer on the noisy neighbors. Thank you for the friendly visit, Jun:)

Winged Warrior June 29, 2017 at 7:26 PM Very dark and noisy...just the way I like Daniel lol...god bless...^WW^ Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 9:20 AM Thank you Wingman. I'm not real fond of noise:)

Connie Marcum Wong June 29, 2017 at 6:53 PM I have a pigeon that does that to me right outside my window on the balcony ledge. I have to get out of bed to go outside to chase him off. It is aggravating, especially since I have trouble sleeping at night. I hope your bird finds another tree. I enjoyed this poem and certainly relate. : ) He did cause you to write a lovely poem tho. Daniel Turner June 30, 2017 at 9:19 AM Thank you, Mrs Connie. I'm usually a light sleeper anyway. Probably from all those years driving a truck.It's always a thrill for me when you drop by:)Hoping you are well:)

Janice Canerdy June 29, 2017 at 1:10 PM Another GREAT sonnet, Daniel! When I was 12, I had a nightmare about a whippoorwill. To this day that bird's sound chills me to the bone! Janice Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 1:15 PM Yes, most annoying!Such a loud song for such a small bird. Hopefully you do not have this problem. Thank you for stopping by. You always leave a smile:)

Cheryl Hoffman June 29, 2017 at 9:21 AM I can relate Daniel; don't want to be whipperwilled awoke at 4 am! Don't have to worry about birds so far but my next door neighbors outside dog likes to start barking at the crack of dawn…he probably thinks he's a rooster!~Very nice write!~Che :) Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 9:25 AM Get you some firecrackers, that usually does the trick:) Thank you for friendly visits, Mrs Cheryl:)

Demetrios Trifiatis June 29, 2017 at 9:08 AM Very interesting and instructive poem! If one is born close to the woods and hears all these natural sounds then they are willingly accepted till, of course, superstition creeps in dear, Daniel! Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 9:16 AM I love all of the sounds and beauty of nature but not at 4am:) Thank you, Demetrios. I am so happy for you and the honors which you have received lately. Well deserved:)

Dan Cwiak June 29, 2017 at 8:10 AM I have no forested space really close, but there are the birds that wake me at sunrise. Your take on not letting you sleep is very different than one I could have written. Wonderful images, I could see them as well as hear them. Keep writing! Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 8:14 AM Thank you, Dan. I have a mountain out my backdoor, so I get all kinds of critters around here. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. So nice to see you again:)

Jean Murray June 29, 2017 at 6:31 AM My neighbour got a rooster last year. I had to stuff pillows against my bedroom window in the end. Wonderful sonnet. Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 8:01 AM Roosters aren't so bad, at least they will shut up. Jean your visits always leave me smiling. You are a treasure:)

Anne-Lise Andresen June 29, 2017 at 4:47 AM - A nasty way to wake up, Daniel - A great writing, with a gloomy song - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 8:00 AM Thank you, Anne Lise. Do you have whippoorwills in Norway? Have a great day:)

Joanna Daniel June 29, 2017 at 12:29 AM I didn't know about this superstition about whippoorwill, great sonnet, DT:) Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 7:59 AM Thank you, Jo. Pretty silly superstition but it sure made for a decent sonnet:)

Frederic Parker June 28, 2017 at 8:33 PM And here I thought it was the owl who called our name, I know this your poem will come to mind when I hear a whip-poor-will, then I'll check my pulse Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 7:56 AM I think the owl story is about seeing them in the daytime. Thank you, Frederic. You are so kind. I hope if you hear one, he's not outside your window:)

Joseph May June 28, 2017 at 7:27 PM I never knew about this folklore till now..a spooky little bird...Well penned Daniel Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 7:53 AM A noisy little tweeter too. Thank you, Joseph. Just for fun, go to youtube and listen to one. Then imagine if he's outside your window while you are trying to sleep. Lol

Andrea Dietrich June 28, 2017 at 7:00 PM I really like the tone of this one. You did it very well, Danny!! Good to see it again. Daniel Turner June 29, 2017 at 7:51 AM Thank you, Andrea. It always good to see you:)

Freddie Robinson Jr. June 28, 2017 at 3:05 PM Very cool poem, Daniel. I have some unwanted humans blasting noise in the wee hours. Can't get no sleep either. The last line made me laugh and smile. Nice poem. Love always. Daniel Turner June 28, 2017 at 6:59 PM I feel for you brother, I abhor noisy neighbors. I also don't like it when they don't keep their grass cut. I am a bit of an ass**** but hey, I earned it:) Thank you Freddie.

Barry Stebbings June 28, 2017 at 1:50 PM I looked this up on youtube. I like the dawn chorus here but please don't send one of those over, lol. Nicely written peice, Daniel. // Barry. Daniel Turner June 28, 2017 at 2:03 PM It has got to be one of the most annoying bird calls there is. Thank you, Barry for making me laugh:)

Alfred Berggren June 28, 2017 at 12:02 PM Keeping you awake I see, Hope he finds a new place to land. Daniel Turner June 28, 2017 at 12:29 PM Thank you, Alfred:) Nice to see you:)

Probir Gupta June 28, 2017 at 9:07 AM Wonderful Sonnet ... Though I am not familiar with the bird, I cannot but admire the brilliance of the sonnet ... Daniel Turner June 28, 2017 at 12:35 PM Thank you, Probir:) What a nice thing to say:):)

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