On This Night

Grew out of a tanka: The moon and stars Behind luminous clouds On this night The crackle of autumn leaves While I whistle in the dark

 

The moon and stars

Lost in the luminous clouds

On this night

There is a rustle of leaves

And, I hum in soft tones

 

The thin bars

Of nude trees groan aloud

On this night

Oh, how I yearn to be free

Of death’s crackling bones

 

The door is ajar

The winding sheet shroud

On this night

Descends in mists quiet eerie

To lay upon old tombstones

 

The lodestar

Shines and I am allowed

On this night

the use my skeleton key

and release the Halloween crones.

Author's Note

Review as you will. Thank you.

Reviews

[Adrian K. Smith]

The contrasting imagery offers not a contrarian view, but rather shows us how through the overall balance of description one could bring about a smooth flow to lead us down a magical path. The pattern of the work adds to the feeling of incantation, as if drawing us into a ritual of creative inspiration.

[JudyC]

Such a evocative writing. Beautiful descriptions that take me back to crisp, slightly eerie autumn nights in New England as a child. I especially like the lines about the "winding sheet shroud". Every word is carefully placed, and the even pace makes reading this poem a pleasure. Love it!

[Wicahpi]

spooky in a tranquil kinda a way
reminds me of the old graveyard next
to my mother's home that dates back
to the 1600's. Nice job on this one.
I like the photo you chose, too!

"The moon and stars
Lost in the luminous clouds
On this night
There is a rustle of leaves
And, I hum in soft tones
The thin bars
Of nude trees groan aloud
On this night
Oh, how I yearn to be free
Of death's crackling bones..."