Comment from Rosalyne

Excellent

Hi Dean,
This is such an eerie well-written poem. What a fright that must have been to wake from such a dream. Your poem had the ring of Edgar Allen Poe, in both depth and style. This is excellent. I guess reading his work is better done in the daytime and save Archie comics for night.LOL
Bye
Rosalyne :)

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Hah, amen to that, Rosalyne! I don't think I'll be doing any more readings of The Raven after ten PM! Plus, I was all alone in the house with my three dogs, so that didn't help too much, either.

Thanks again for such a wonderful review!

Comment from l.raven

Excellent

OMG Dean, What a dream to have...and you truly put it to detail...I love every scary word...And of course the book The RAVEN....hummmmm really love it!!! and the picture are to say the least !!! Great !!! Luff Linda xxoo

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks very much, I.raven (Linda) I really am glad that you liked it. I love just about everything Poe has ever written. He's probably my all-time favorite. Well, him, and Stephen King, of course!

reply by l.raven on 19-Nov-2013

Love Poe...but Stephen King rocks...welcome...xxoo how would you like to have the name Raven...LOL

reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Me? I'd love it, hah ha!

reply by l.raven on 19-Nov-2013

I bet you would...mine is Ravencraft..

Comment from nancy_e_davis

Excellent

Oh, So spooky. Gave me chills, that's what you wanted isn't it? LOL, I wrote a poem about Poe having a Raven but I was sent a Dove. His raven brought him misery but my bird brought me love. Love the picture Dean and you did a scary job on the poem. Kudos! Nancy

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks so much, Nancy. I truly appreciate it!

In your dreams, you get silky white, beautiful doves. In mine, I get shambling corpses covered in dirt whispering Lenore...Oh, woe is me!

reply by nancy_e_davis on 19-Nov-2013

It takes all kinds, We definitely need opposites! LOL

Comment from Gungalo

Excellent

Devastatingly good Dean. To get all this from a dream, hmmmm. But it so fits. Your word you garnered from this dream of dreams is awesome and well defined. Besides being a gruesome tale, it is extremely well written.

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks so much, Gungalo! Thanks for giving me your expert opinion on this. I'm no expert at Elizabethean styled poetry, but that's what the dream seemed to cry out for. In the dream, a corpse bride came though my window. All she kept whispering was one word, "Nevermore". I have no idea what the hell it meant, but I know it scared the crap out of me. I wrote the poem in about ten minutes, no lie! The words just poured out. Really weird experience.

reply by Gungalo on 19-Nov-2013

I believe you Dean.

reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

I probably should not have been reading The Raven so late at night, huh? It's probably not a good idea, especially when you are all alone in the house...
Thanks so much again, 'G'.

reply by Gungalo on 19-Nov-2013

Awww Dean, you'll never convince me it bothered you. LOL.

Comment from ~Dovey

Exceptional

Hi Dean!
Poe was both brilliant and mad lol Do they really go hand in hand? You've lent the state of a tortured soul to this poem and I loved the rhyme scheme. At first I was thinking the lines would be too lengthy, but it really works and conveys Poe's poetic style (and yours) It is an excellent read. Loved the artwork, too. Did I mention it was brilliant? ;) You, too, are becoming a master of the macabre. Well deserving of all six stars.

Kim

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks for such a wonderful compliment, Kim. You have made my day!
I'll admit I was a bit timid about the length of each line, but as you said, I wanted to convey Poe's unique style. I hope I've done him justice...

Thanks so much again for such a glowing review.

reply by ~Dovey on 19-Nov-2013

Making your day makes me smile. :) It was well deserved, Dean. Kim

Comment from lindalcreel

Excellent

Poe was a genius, though he was also scary. The Raven was one of the books that I read a very long time ago. You have piqued my interest with this poem and I shall have to go to the bookshelf and find some of his works. Perhaps your dream was an invitation to write this wonderful poem. Thanks so much for sharing.

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks very much, Linda, I am very grateful that you took the time to read and review this for me. That dream really scared the heck out of me, I can tell you that! I started writing this s soon as my feet hit the floor.

reply by lindalcreel on 19-Nov-2013

I've had dreams before and felt the need to get up and write, but thankfully, they haven't been nightmares. Hopefully you'll sleep well tonight, my friend.

Comment from Spitfire

Excellent

This sounds like Poe's style. Easy to capture after reading his work a lot.Wonderful use of alliteration and stark images. What I remember most about The Raven was the professor's insight as to how the narrator phrase every question so that the answer "nevermore" deepended his depression.

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks, Spit. The Raven is my favorite poem of all time, hands down. I get chills every time I read it, no matter how many times I do.

Thanks for the wonderful review, my friend. It's sincerely appreciated.

Comment from michaelcahill

Exceptional

What a brash and bold undertaking. You dare to write a sequel to the Raven, not a tribute or a mention or a nod to. And you do. I have no problem reading the original and then reading your piece thereafter. They work perfectly well together one complimenting the other. I can scarcely believe that I am able to say that. What an accomplishment. Stunning. mikey

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks so much, Mikey, that dream really had an impact on me while I was writing this. As I said, I was studying the "Raven", trying to see if I could pick up on some of Poe's unique intricacies in format and styling, and I fell asleep. Then I had that horrifying dream! I know this sounds kinda' corny, but when I awoke, it was like Poe was screaming in my brain, "Write, boy!" So, with shaky hands, I did immediately. This is the result...

Thanks again my talented friend. Much appreciated

Comment from Tomes Johnston

Excellent

This is an interesting poem from the author. I like the tribute to Edgar Allen Poe's poem, The Raven. I wrote my version of this as well, but it didn't do too well. I am definitely not a poet.

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks, Tomes, I am glad you liked it. What's the name of your poem? Is it posted here? Let me know, and I'll have a go at it...If you wouldn't mind?

reply by Tomes Johnston on 19-Nov-2013

I will see if I can dig it out for you.

reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks, I'd be most appreciative.

Comment from Treischel

Exceptional

My favorite poem of all time - The Raven. Now it seems you know the full meaning of the words " while I pondered weak and weary".
You really captured the tone of dread, as Poe does, I thoroughly enjoyed this fabulous frolic into the Lenore saga. The black rose of wonderful touch. I particularly loved this verse:
Its eyes--an ebony onyx, deep-- rolled back into its head.
Making no sound, nary a peep, he flew down upon my bed.
"Why do you torment me so, I'm just a man, and nothing more,
I know your creed now, please, just go--when, from my grasp, he tore...

Couple of lines I have a suggestion on the Elizabethan:
Yet, he looked on, showing no fear, as if my voice, he didn't trust.
Hence, he looked on, fearing not, twas as if my voice, he doth not trust.

Begone--do not return tomorrow- you fill my life with gloom."
Begone- do not return on morrow- you fill my life with gloom"

...a parchment, crumpled, in quivering hand, grasped within my fist,
...a parchment, crumpled, in quivering hand, grasped betwixt my fist,

only some thoughts. Beautiful as is.

 Comment Written 19-Nov-2013

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reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

Thanks so much, Treischel, I really appreciate that excellent review. I took those suggestions you gave me and ran with them! They were fantastic! I really struggled with that "tomorrow" line, and it still didn't feel quite right after I was finished. I really love it now, with your suggestion in place.

Thanks so much, my talented friend. I am positive your help has made it a much stronger poem than it was.

reply by Treischel on 19-Nov-2013

I am pleased Dean. I hesitated to make them, as it was already an excellent poem.

reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013

No, I am very glad you did! I can't thank you enough.