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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

Date: 7/21/2017 8:21:00 AM

Can be quite maddening. Hope he took your wish and flew away.

Daniel Turner
Date: 7/21/2017 10:10:00 AM

Thank you, Alfred and yes he did:)

Wayne Underwood

Date: 7/16/2017 11:16:00 PM

Daniel, well done. Reminded me of my fishing trips, waking up getting out the tent and adoring all the beauty. Wayne

Daniel Turner
Date: 7/21/2017 10:10:00 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

Date: 7/11/2017 8:05:00 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
Date: 7/11/2017 8:11:00 AM

Listen to it on youtube:) Thank you Maria. I always enjoy your company:)

Sunita U.D Palawon

Date: 7/5/2017 11:42:00 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
Date: 7/7/2017 10:32:00 AM

Thank you, Sunita. I do love writing sonnets:)

Janis Medders Tobechi

Date: 7/1/2017 3:40:00 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
Date: 7/3/2017 2:22:00 PM

Thank you, Mrs Janis. So glad you liked it:)

Tim Smith

Date: 6/30/2017 1:15:00 PM

Stopped back to wish you a great weekend and happy fourth.

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/30/2017 10:06:00 PM

Thanks, Tim. Be careful if you and your kids are going to shoot fireworks. Have fun!!!

Sara Kendrick

Date: 6/30/2017 10:35:00 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
Date: 7/7/2017 9:37:00 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
Date: 6/30/2017 10:06:00 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

Date: 6/30/2017 5:32:00 AM

Beautiful Daniel, We have Ring-necked doves that coo and to me It's quiet a haunting sound.

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/30/2017 9:23:00 AM

Jerry, they're real easy to clean and they taste scrumptious:) Thank you for dropping by to read and comment:)

Jun Gonzales

Date: 6/29/2017 11:50:00 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
Date: 6/30/2017 9:22:00 AM

LOL Bummer on the noisy neighbors. Thank you for the friendly visit, Jun:)

Winged Warrior

Date: 6/29/2017 7:26:00 PM

Very dark and noisy...just the way I like Daniel lol...god bless...^WW^

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/30/2017 9:20:00 AM

Thank you Wingman. I'm not real fond of noise:)

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 6/29/2017 6:53:00 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
Date: 6/30/2017 9:19:00 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

Date: 6/29/2017 1:10:00 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
Date: 6/29/2017 1:15:00 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

Date: 6/29/2017 9:21:00 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
Date: 6/29/2017 9:25:00 AM

Get you some firecrackers, that usually does the trick:) Thank you for friendly visits, Mrs Cheryl:)

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 6/29/2017 9:08:00 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
Date: 6/29/2017 9:16:00 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

Date: 6/29/2017 8:10:00 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
Date: 6/29/2017 8:14:00 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

Date: 6/29/2017 6:31:00 AM

My neighbour got a rooster last year. I had to stuff pillows against my bedroom window in the end. Wonderful sonnet.

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/29/2017 8:01:00 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

Date: 6/29/2017 4:47:00 AM

- A nasty way to wake up, Daniel - A great writing, with a gloomy song - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/29/2017 8:00:00 AM

Thank you, Anne Lise. Do you have whippoorwills in Norway? Have a great day:)

Joanna Daniel

Date: 6/29/2017 12:29:00 AM

I didn't know about this superstition about whippoorwill, great sonnet, DT:)

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/29/2017 7:59:00 AM

Thank you, Jo. Pretty silly superstition but it sure made for a decent sonnet:)

Frederic Parker

Date: 6/28/2017 8:33:00 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
Date: 6/29/2017 7:56:00 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

Date: 6/28/2017 7:27:00 PM

I never knew about this folklore till now..a spooky little bird...Well penned Daniel

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/29/2017 7:53:00 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

Date: 6/28/2017 7:00:00 PM

I really like the tone of this one. You did it very well, Danny!! Good to see it again.

Daniel Turner
Date: 6/29/2017 7:51:00 AM

Thank you, Andrea. It always good to see you:)

Freddie Robinson Jr.

Date: 6/28/2017 3:05:00 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
Date: 6/28/2017 6:59:00 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.