Apocryphal Apparition
I gazed into my darkened reflection, it stared back at me...46 total reviews
Comment from daeneam
Here in the Philippines, there is a tale about looking at the mirror with a lighted candle - you will be able to see your soul mate. I thought it was good but I haven't had the nerve to do that because I may see what the opposite of what I expect. Worst, the real, real me!
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
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Here in the Philippines, there is a tale about looking at the mirror with a lighted candle - you will be able to see your soul mate. I thought it was good but I haven't had the nerve to do that because I may see what the opposite of what I expect. Worst, the real, real me!
Comment Written 11-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
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Thanks for that info, bulletski, and for the very kind review. Perhaps that what I witnessed when I did this. I certainly hope not, it was terrifying and I don't recommend doing it.
Comment from michaelcahill
Spectacular piece. Amazing images and unique language stylings line after line. I love the active struggle that takes place and it draws me in and keeps me enthralled with the battle taking place. You even had me look something up. That is a rarity. "cheval glass". Didn't know exactly what that was. The last word I had to look up was "Kiosk" of all things. Hahaha. What can I say, never heard of one. About ten years ago. Tangent.... Loved this, mikey
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
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Spectacular piece. Amazing images and unique language stylings line after line. I love the active struggle that takes place and it draws me in and keeps me enthralled with the battle taking place. You even had me look something up. That is a rarity. "cheval glass". Didn't know exactly what that was. The last word I had to look up was "Kiosk" of all things. Hahaha. What can I say, never heard of one. About ten years ago. Tangent.... Loved this, mikey
Comment Written 11-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
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Well, thank you very much, Mikey! I've always loved that term, "cheval glass". Always sounded so musical to me. I'm very grateful for your glowing review, my friend.
Comment from Winslow
Dear Writer,
Oh what do I see, what do I hear? Am I going mad? Does my mind know what is happening? It this a lost battle and the demons have won?
Good luck in the contest.
Warm regards,
Winslow
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Dear Writer,
Oh what do I see, what do I hear? Am I going mad? Does my mind know what is happening? It this a lost battle and the demons have won?
Good luck in the contest.
Warm regards,
Winslow
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thanks for the awesome poetic response, Winslow! I really appreciate that, it was pretty cool.
Warmest regards to you as well, my friend.
Comment from patsypats
How creative and what good use of the ole imagination. The imagery (no pun intended) was quite vivid and the intensity of your words set the theme:)
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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How creative and what good use of the ole imagination. The imagery (no pun intended) was quite vivid and the intensity of your words set the theme:)
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thanks for such a scintillating review, patsypats. I greatly appreciate the wonderful sentiments, my friend!
Comment from lancellot
Yes, this is in the Edgar style. We don't get too many works written in the King's English and with a proper use of words. You get points for style and bringing back what we grew up reading. Well done.
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Yes, this is in the Edgar style. We don't get too many works written in the King's English and with a proper use of words. You get points for style and bringing back what we grew up reading. Well done.
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thanks, lancellot, I'm honored, my friend. I'll admit, this has been one oddly received piece, running the gamut from three-star ratings (because it was too hard to understand), and six-stars, because the readers felt it was brilliant. I've never had that happen before. Poe's style was received in such a way too by the critics of his day. Odd. History does repeat itself.
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I think people here aren't used to it, and Poe wrote outside traditional rules, some on the site hate that, especially in poetry.
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Yes, I agree. Thinking outside that proverbial box is often frowned upon here, especially as it pertains to poetic expression.
Comment from MM lives on :)
Dear poet, the title twists my tongue into a frenzy...yeah the mirror can play tricks on oneself, once in the frozen hills in Finland as a young lad, my mates and I took some LSD, I looked at what appeared to be a mirror to in the waters edge and I looked like the devil himself...scared the living skeletal marrow right out of my bones...my ex-wife also adorned a mirror-less image but only when I looked at the vampress in vain.
Bravo as she reopened my haunts on the past !
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Dear poet, the title twists my tongue into a frenzy...yeah the mirror can play tricks on oneself, once in the frozen hills in Finland as a young lad, my mates and I took some LSD, I looked at what appeared to be a mirror to in the waters edge and I looked like the devil himself...scared the living skeletal marrow right out of my bones...my ex-wife also adorned a mirror-less image but only when I looked at the vampress in vain.
Bravo as she reopened my haunts on the past !
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Oh, man! That must've been one helluva' trip, Christopher. I believe something like that would terrify the stoutest of souls.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me on this. I sincerely appreciate it!
Comment from closetpoetjester
Now this is EXACTLY why I don't sit and look in the mirror. LOL Great poem Dean and what an interesting exercise you've partaken in. I'm not sure I want to sit and look at myself long enough to dissect all my shortcomings but it may be a step towards image preservation in a sense. To fix something, we first have to acknowledge we have a problem. A mirror is a scathingly honest apparatus. Even though we are only viewing the outside...the reflection we see forces us to compare it with what is inside. That don't always match, I concede. Well written from the dark depths and recesses of the brain. Bravo! A wonderful nod to the POEt you mentioned.
Cheers P
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Now this is EXACTLY why I don't sit and look in the mirror. LOL Great poem Dean and what an interesting exercise you've partaken in. I'm not sure I want to sit and look at myself long enough to dissect all my shortcomings but it may be a step towards image preservation in a sense. To fix something, we first have to acknowledge we have a problem. A mirror is a scathingly honest apparatus. Even though we are only viewing the outside...the reflection we see forces us to compare it with what is inside. That don't always match, I concede. Well written from the dark depths and recesses of the brain. Bravo! A wonderful nod to the POEt you mentioned.
Cheers P
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thanks so much for this glowing review, C. You are right, it is hard to accept what we see staring back at us sometimes, if we look too long. But, as you said, it helps you know how to fix what's broken.
I'm glad you appreciated the nod to Edgar. Thanks for everything you said, as a matter of fact, LOL...
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No probs D.
You're a deep well here.
Comment from omerta16
What a kick ass poem. I loved it. Love the ominous feeling given in the beginning and carried throughout. The word play was executed with style and rolled along gracefully. Great Job.
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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What a kick ass poem. I loved it. Love the ominous feeling given in the beginning and carried throughout. The word play was executed with style and rolled along gracefully. Great Job.
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thank you, omerta16, what a wonderful compliment! I'm blown away by your response, and I'm really grateful that you enjoyed it.
Thanks so much again!
Comment from Gungalo
"O' apocryphal apparition", I cried, "converse no more!"
Cursed cheval glass then cracked , as yonder breezes brushed my soul cold,
glass crashed when--like waves on yon distant shore--
remnants of what once was succumbed to madness, as fate foretold.
Quite the endeavor and an awesome story. So much work went into this one and it's great. Great quatrains too.
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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"O' apocryphal apparition", I cried, "converse no more!"
Cursed cheval glass then cracked , as yonder breezes brushed my soul cold,
glass crashed when--like waves on yon distant shore--
remnants of what once was succumbed to madness, as fate foretold.
Quite the endeavor and an awesome story. So much work went into this one and it's great. Great quatrains too.
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thank you, Gungalo. I really appreciate that. After two four-star ratings in a row from readers claiming they couldn't comprehend it, I needed a moral boost, LOL.
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Smile
Comment from lappmellott
I have to say that I didn't understand your poem until I read the author notes. I have always liked Edgar Allen Poe and your poem possesses his style. I thought it was a little hard to figure out, but then, that's how Poe's style of writing is.
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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I have to say that I didn't understand your poem until I read the author notes. I have always liked Edgar Allen Poe and your poem possesses his style. I thought it was a little hard to figure out, but then, that's how Poe's style of writing is.
Comment Written 10-Mar-2014
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2014
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Thank you, lappmellott. I appreciate that.
