Comment from Judy Couch

Excellent

This is well written with very good rhyme and rhythm. I liked the way the first and third line of each section had a rhyme within the line. It made the poem more interesting. Probably also made it harder to write.

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thanks, Judy!

Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin

Exceptional

Hi,

Nicely constructed poem. Between the artwork, black background, and white font, serves to aid in bringing even more impact to your work.

Good luck in the contest.

Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Jax, thanks for the generous review and six stars.

Comment from Ben Colder

Excellent

The night is full of mystery. The mind loves playing trick on the person of wonder. You sent the notion in to bliss. Well done poet.

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thanks, Ben!

Comment from nancyjam

Excellent

Creepy and scary imagery and wonderful
sound words for this contest.
Good use of alliteration and assonance.
Good use of internal rhyme and
strong end rhyme.
Good luck in the contest. Nancy

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thanks, Nancy - glad you enjoyed.

Comment from SLHarper

Exceptional

Oooh, this is dark, creepy and cacophonously beautiful, which also means that it precludes my entry into the contest! Lol! I'm no dummy -- I know when I've been outdone, and so, unless I can come up with something viscerally rhythmic that rhymes and compels remotely the way this gorgeous, lyrical poem does, then, I will remain on the sidelines!

I love your imagery -- owl, banshee, Satan's minion (which also SOUNDS great!), as well as the clever word play with "toll the bell of mourning."

This poem would be the perfect word-accompaniment to the Night on Bald Mountain segment of Fantasia.

Well done, Master!

Cheers!

Steph

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Chicken! You were interested enough to write a query in the contest threads - I thought you must already have something prepared.

I haven't seen you around the reviews for a while - I'm guessing you've been busy with real life stuff...

Anyway, thanks for the generous words and helping of stars - I quite like this one myself - interestingly I started with the banshee and then the poem wrote itself in reverse order...

Mystery Poet

reply by SLHarper on 14-Jul-2014

Lol! You answered that query and so graciously let me know what I was up against ahead of time! I really did enjoy your poem very much, and I voted for you! :)

Interesting that you should call me "chicken!" As a matter of fact, the very last thing I had posted before yesterday (yesterday's was sort of a take on the cacophany prompt), was a poem about chickens! You are very perceptive!

That's so cool about the reverse order. That doesn't happen to me very often, but I think it is a mark of true inspiration!

Sorry you haven't seen me around much. Basically, when I do have time to read and review, I do so freakishly slowly. It just takes me a long time to process and express myself, so I'm always way behind. Also, lots of people have been asking me for reviews lately, which I really take to heart and so, sometimes, I spend a couple of hours on just one review and that's all the time I have in that given day.

Anyway, Night Sounds really is brilliant. You should be proud!

Steph

Comment from RYME4U

Excellent

This is very descriptive and well written. The eeriness is clearly expressed here and the night sounds are done well. Good job!

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thank you!

Comment from Dorothy Farrell

Excellent

This is very well written - beautiful in fact. I wonder if there is enough harsh, discordant sounds? The word 'soughing' for example is a soft word - soulful sighing' - Your final stanza hits the mark perfectly. However, I think this is a very good poem - extremely well written. Some wonderful alliteration in 'Satan's snarling, screeching'. Good Luck in the contest. Regards Dorothy

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thanks, Dorothy.

I take your point about the sounds - I started off with the harsher ones, but as I got into the poem I couldn't resist some of the soulful and eerie ones to fit my theme. Actually, I wrote the poem with the stanzas in reverse order to how they appear now.

Comment from RodG

Excellent

For a moment I wondered if I had reread Dante"s "Inferno."
You have done a great job of setting a scene and focusing on audio imagery that would spook anyone.
Excellent use of alliteration and onomatopoeia.
Well done, mystery writer! Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Rod, thanks for the kind words.

Comment from Kingsland

Excellent

What is the title of this poem? I liked the way this poem flows within its thoughts and phrases. It is a rather dark piece of poetic art , but it has good vocabulary usage and it gets right down to its melodramatic thoughts without pulling any punches. I enjoyed reading this well written poetic voice... John

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thanks, John. yes, showing my dark side for this one.

Comment from Kenneth Schaal

Excellent

I loved reading this verse; discordant, accordant, what? --the long vowels roll harmoniously through the wonderful unearthly descriptions. Reads, to me, like a prologue to a horror story. Good luck. Kenny

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 14-Jul-2014

Thanks, Kenny.

yep, I started off with screech and shriek, but couldn't resist the more harmonious sounds as well.