Where Evil Creeps

An eerie silence wrapped the bog,
I dared not move nor speak.
The chilling blanket of the fog
where evil beings creep,
conceals within tormented souls 
now stirring from their sleep,
and there with gruesome fate foretold
lie secrets they will keep.
Into the darkest night they prowl
as silent echoes shriek,
and even wolves with frightened howls
hide in the forest deep.
The terror of the living dead
will follow where they tread.

A Quatorzain is a centuries old form that was used by those like Shakespeare for creativity not restricted by strict rhyme schemes and syllable counts per line like Sonnets were. Therefore, each Quatorzain could be an original creation, however, it wasn't a totally free form because it was still restricted to 14 lines and usually written in iambic meter, also, unlike a Petrarachan/Italian Sonnet it usually ended with a rhyming couplet. Some have argued that it evolved into the English Sonnet. Writers often played with the number 7 as I have done here with alternating iambic tetrameter and trimeter. I also used mono rhyme in the trimeter lines (something not commonly done with Quatorzains yet, as I alluded, it's the beauty of a more free form).

Written October 8th, 2019
for Best New Poem Contest
Sponsored by Emile Pinet
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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There Avatar
October 21, 2019 at 12:30 AM
Congratulations on your placement!!
Roper Avatar
October 20, 2019 at 4:37 PM
Craig, congratulations on your win.
Blodgett Avatar
October 20, 2019 at 4:20 PM
You are a great storyteller from your choice of words to how their placement subliminally effect the reader. Great poem Craig Lonna
Adams Avatar
October 19, 2019 at 10:12 PM
back to say congrats to you on your win :) hugs
Hamilton Avatar
October 19, 2019 at 5:07 PM
Well done Craig, nice to see this poem recognized with a fine placement!
Pinet Avatar
October 19, 2019 at 1:33 PM
Congratulations Craig! Your poem earned a distinguished place in my contest. This contest was very tough to judge, for I was very strict, well done my friend, Emile.
There Avatar
October 16, 2019 at 1:20 AM
Loved this ~ the rhythm and rhyming are impeccable to me, but I love the succintness of your words and story as well. Kudos, craig :)
Callus Avatar
October 13, 2019 at 1:53 PM
This is the first time I heard of this form, Craig; thank you for explaining it in simple terms. You have created a dark, chilly atmosphere with apparent ease. I always find the 8/6 syllable count to work remarkably well. Regards // paul
Cornish Avatar
October 13, 2019 at 3:15 PM
Thank you my talented friend
Adams Avatar
October 8, 2019 at 9:26 AM
I love this one, the form works well with the imagery to set this scene up nicely... to me fog it so eerie in itself, your wording just magnifies it... Excellent penning Craig :) hugs
Cornish Avatar
October 12, 2019 at 1:29 PM
Thank you Sandy!
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