Comment from Starlit Ink

Excellent

Your poem is spooky, and describes how powerful the mind is, and how one can succumb to madness. Dark shadows coming after you means you're definitely headed for the loony bin. The surprise and quirky ending was fabulous and gave me a smile. That reminds me, I need to go and visit my relatives.

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Hah, well, by all means, visit away, Starlit Ink! I'm sure they'd appreciate it.

Thanks for the witty and entertaining review. Much obliged!

Comment from lindalcreel

Excellent

My whole class had to do a psych rotation when we were in nursing school. I was the only one to be brave enough to play cards with some of the patents who were paranoid schizophrenics. We were locked in with them all day and some of the students were afraid to walk around. I guess I just wasn't bothered by that and because I was comfortable, the patients sensed that. Got an "A" for the course. LOL

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Hah ha, that sounds like good times to me, Linda. Oh, the stories they could tell, huh?

I appreciate the entertaining review, my friend.

reply by lindalcreel on 13-Mar-2014

I've got quite a few from working as a nurse the last twenty plus years. Some we still laugh about, others we cry about.

reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

I'll bet!

Comment from nancy_e_davis

Excellent

You certainly know how to write frightening stories/poems Dean
Thid one had a surprise ending! if i was seeing dark shadows and hearing something scratching I think I would end up in the loony bin too. LOL Well done. Nancy

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Hah, thanks very much, Nancy. I'm certain where you're concerned, you've got nothing to worry about, LOL.

Comment from babylonia

Exceptional

Dean,
VERY, very nicely done. I really enjoyed it. I recognize the picture. Easy to read and follow. No spaggies do I see. The imagery is awesome. :D
Love,
Barbara

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Thanks so much, Barbara, I truly appreciate that. I'm glad you liked this "crazy" thing!

reply by babylonia on 13-Mar-2014

You are very welcome.
Love,
Barbara

Comment from rtobaygo

Exceptional

Hello, Dean:

WOW! WOW! WOW!

One hell of a picture and with sound effects to boot. I liked the rhyming scheme, its flow and delivery spotless.

Take care,

Ray

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Thanks, Ray! I take a triple "WOW!" any day, my friend. I so glad you enjoyed it.

Comment from poet.wayne

Excellent

Great! Dark Shadows meets the monster under my bed! Interesting double message at the end...first I thought it was the narrator being set free from the flesh by death, but the end threw mw, the bit about the loony bin... Reminds me, I need to revisit "309" in my story, "Ha Ha"... wonder what he's been up to lately?

...oh, and not all of the monsters under our beds, magically disappear when we reach adulthood....

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

You got that right, PW. Sometimes, they grow up right alongside us.
Thanks for an awesome review.

Comment from Louise Michelle

Excellent

Hi Dean,

This is a terrific ride inside the mind of a mad man. It reminded me of the movie 'Psycho' when, at the end, he was sitting in the cell and purposely not killing a fly to show THEM he was so gentle.

Hugs,
Lou

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Thanks, Lou, I appreciate that. The inspiration for the poem came from the character Renfield, in Bram Stoker's Dracula. Now THAT was one crazy cat!

Comment from ccto12

Excellent

Wow this is really frightening. The image for sure, but then your words all with a great rhyming scheme. Deliciously scary images with all the references to the door ('neath; clawing and raking at; opened wide) and then at the ferrying conclusion the reader realizes the person writing this is not a patient but the doctor, ha ha! Ahhhhh! What a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Thanks, ccto 12, I'm really glad you liked it. Loved your "deliciously scary" comment. That was great!

reply by ccto12 on 13-Mar-2014

Even though I'm a wimp when it comes to frightening things (Halloween haunted houses with people running around with chainsaws turned on!) I guess some part of me loves a good scare, LOL!

reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Well, if you get an opportunity, read my acrostic pictapoem "HORROR WRITER". It's near the top of my portfolio. That'll explain to you why.
:}

reply by ccto12 on 13-Mar-2014

Okay will do!

reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

:]
Thanks!

Comment from Marillion

Excellent

Great stuff, Dean, with some pretty horrific, but fitting images, to go with the poem. There's not anything more disturbing than a place for the criminally disturbed. The white halls, the shadows, the sounds. You capture it all so well.

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Thanks for weighing in on this one, Marillion. I appreciate that.

The inspiration came for the poem after reading Bram Stoker's Dracula, for about the tenth time, no less. The character Mr. Renfield, the Count's crazed and ultimately doomed pupil. I'm sure you know the rest of the story.

reply by Marillion on 13-Mar-2014

That I do, my friend!

reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

:}

Comment from barkingdog

Excellent

I enjoyed the tempo and rhyme on this scary piece. It does sound like a patient in a mental hospital. Good job setting the perfect mood.

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2014

Thank you, Ellen. I based the character after Mr. Renfield, from Bram Stoker's Dracula. So--you're dead-on!