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!

[Jack...]

This is great, the best Rita poem so far in my opinion. Two of my favorites poets written about by my new favorite poet. Very nice.

[Rita L. Sev]

Well, THAT sure brought a smile to my face! :) Thank you, Jack!

[Rogue]

I enjoy reading these quirky things you think up. You do such a great job of drawing is into these moments with you in an easy and well written manner. :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Would you be surprised to know that "quirky" is a description I get often? ;) Thank you so much, Rogue! Glad you enjoyed!

[Sirius King]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!


100/100

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)

[Angel]

Perhaps I should not have read this just before bedtime...
You have managed to make me shudder...just as if those Masters had come back to haunt me in this quiet old house...
I loved this piece. You have a real talent, Hun.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Angel! Sorry for the dark mood before bedtime, but don't worry, Emily and Edgar were only their own worst enemies!

[Angel]

LOL, no problem. I slept like a lamb...
You have a serious talent, Hun. I believe you are destined for greatness...

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much!

[John Lauterbach]

I was rooting for Poe and his giant skull. The ending really is the most fitting for both, though. If I were stuck in a room with those two, I'd probably be the first to go.

Your poems are always so fun with that rhyme scheme you use, even talking about two depressing poets in a sad-off. Is there a name for this sort of rhyming? My favorite lines are the ones about their muses, especially Emily's.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, John! I play with different rhyme schemes, but this one is the one I go to most often - ABCB, nice and simple. I have to admit, I giggled myself when I wrote the lines for their muses!

[Kristin Lee]

Great job combining lines from two great minds! Very crafty.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Kristin; I like that - crafty!

[Baby Ricochet]

Excellent poem. Great rhymes. Awesome job all round.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Mark!

[SteveB]

Brilliant! As a poem well structured, great rythmn and interestng concept. AS a discussion between the two witty and respectful to both while expressing your own voice.
Brava!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Steve! I revere both of these Poets, and apparently I spend too much time thinking about them! :)

[Frieda P]

Interesting concept here Rita, that would be some conversation, who can out depress the other?! Enjoyed this one....

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Frieda - this is the weird stuff that takes up brain space until I write it down!

[Frieda P]

Ha that's acceptable, I'll trade ya brain space for a while. ;-P