Battle of the Masters

Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe

Were sparring in poetic verse

 

Said Poe, “My Muse is alcohol.”

Said Emily, “Mine’s the hearse.”

 

Em began the battle with:

“My life closed twice before…”

 

Poe countered with the chilling tale

Of his lost Lenore

 

“Because I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me…”

 

“The wind came out of the cloud by night…

Killing my Annabel Lee…”

 

They went on like this throughout the day

And all throughout the night

 

But neither brought the other down

With sorrows they’d recite

 

And there they may be standing, still

Swapping words of gloom

 

Neither poet taking notice

Of their own untimely doom 

Author's Note

Imagining what a meeting between these two Masters would be like...

Reviews

[Will]

Hot damn, you've outdone yourself, Rita! This is amazing, you've done a stupendous job combing the worse of these two poetic geniuses. I could literally see these two standing in a room as a storm rages outside, them exchanging dark verse after dark verse. I love it! I count you among these poetic geniuses, Rita, awesome job!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Will. I love that you imagined the storm raging outside; that's perfect! I have a very long way to go to be in the strata of these greats, but I appreciate your confidence in me!

[Will]

Keep writing gems like this, and you'll be there in no time!

[OTownPete]

What a clever concept so well drawn out Rita. Much enjoyed. Your friend in words, Pete

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Pete. Your piece that mentioned Poe reminded me of this one from a few months age. So glad you enjoyed!

[Lydia Shutter]

What a concept....can you imagine what they could have written if they collaborated? They both had a dark side, no doubt about it. If combined, it might have combusted! Excellent work here. Lydi**

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you - Oh, yes - that would be some amazing dark work indeed...

[Eddie Phillips]

If I could send you applause I would. This was a awesome masterpiece. I love both poets so you had me from the start. You crafted this wonderfully. Thank you for sharing this with me. I am adding it to my favorites. Bravo!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Eddie - they are two of my favorites, too - I suspect tormented by similar demons...

[kublakhan27]

Oh wow, this is very creative :) You were spot-on with the personalities and I like the works you referenced too...this is something that could become a one-act play if you stretched it out a bit...definitely one of my favourites, awesome :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, K - this would be fun to cast and see on a stage! :)

[kublakhan27]

It definitely would ;)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahahaha! what wonderful word work lovely Rita. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole meal. Would not change a thing. Wonderful tribute to two masters as well. You have a gift. Thanks for sharing.
E.

[Rita L. Sev]

:) Thank you so much, E!

[Anand Sehgal]

And there they may be standing, still
Swapping words of gloom

Neither poet taking notice
Of their own untimely doom .

you told everything. if you have a time, you would like to watch the Indian movie "The game of chess" with English subtitles :)

[Rita L. Sev]

I will look into that - thanks, Anand!

[Pryde Foltz]

Great idea and wonderfully written. If I have to pick a side. I go team Poe.

[Rita L. Sev]

Hmmm... I don't think I could choose... though Emily would probably like to be left alone... Thanks, Pryde!

[Pryde Foltz]

All the great ones get like that. lol.

[rutherford]

A great paring of two poet geniuses. The poem creates a rivalry between the two and I come away appreciating that they may have had more in common than I ever imagined (their dark sides--"swapping words of gloom"). Battle of the Bands, Battle of the stars, why not battle of the poets. Your skill with rhyme shows itself here.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, John. I love both Poe and Dickinson, and both wrote with Death leaning over their shoulders... I imagine this meeting taking place in the Afterlife...

[Cassie]

You never run out of ideas and I love the way you write about everything. This is a whole different idea and I loved it.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Cassie - I think poetry is everywhere!

[ANTO]

If you build it they will come Rita. A phonebox?

This is brilliant - its like a refined version of that gross-out show 'Celebrity Deathmatch'. It would make a fine episode of 'Twilight Zone'.
Class Rita - pure class
X

[Rita L. Sev]

I would love to see this on a "Twilight Zone"! :) Thanks, Anto!