A Scream Beyond the Darkness
Things aren't always what they seem to be...72 total reviews
Comment from BeasPeas
What can I say? You did it again. A wonderful piece that I enjoyed reading so much. Each line is a treasure. Congratulations on another good write.
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2014
What can I say? You did it again. A wonderful piece that I enjoyed reading so much. Each line is a treasure. Congratulations on another good write.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2014
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Thanks so much, BeasPeas, it's always a pleasure for me to see a review from you. This one is no exception. I am very pleased that you enjoyed it.
Comment from Twilightspire
Breathtaking! I love this poem. The graphic nature of it speaks volumes for itself. I've heard a barn owl shriek and it is the most eerie thing anyone can imagine and you write about it in a haunting and delicate way. Sometimes, nature is far more terrifying and sad than horror. Great job on this one.
-T.J.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
Breathtaking! I love this poem. The graphic nature of it speaks volumes for itself. I've heard a barn owl shriek and it is the most eerie thing anyone can imagine and you write about it in a haunting and delicate way. Sometimes, nature is far more terrifying and sad than horror. Great job on this one.
-T.J.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
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Thanks, T.J., glad to hear that you've heard one of these barn owls cries. It's hard to make it come across in mere words, but I liken it closely to a woman's scream, or a terrified child's. I appreciate the kind review.
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It is so much like that, it's scary! I've heard it often in the dead of night and...brrr, chilling! You did a great job putting that across.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Great before and after artwork on this poem. Great title too in this very descriptive write about the nervous boy and the night scream of the Barn Owl.Reminds me of the tropical curlew, they sound like a crying child in the dead of night. Great read.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
Great before and after artwork on this poem. Great title too in this very descriptive write about the nervous boy and the night scream of the Barn Owl.Reminds me of the tropical curlew, they sound like a crying child in the dead of night. Great read.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
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Thanks for the great review of this poem, Pearl. So sorry for the delayed reply, I've had some internet issues lately.
Comment from sweetwoodjax
this is very well written, dean, you did an excellent job writing this poem about the sounds that the barn owls make that can frighten a soul to death. i enjoyed reading it
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
this is very well written, dean, you did an excellent job writing this poem about the sounds that the barn owls make that can frighten a soul to death. i enjoyed reading it
Comment Written 07-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
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Thanks, sweet.
Comment from Zue65
Yes, I do believe you, been there and it's a familiar terrain to me too. At night, when it's dark, our imagination can be very creative and we tend to see things we don't really want to see. I don't really know why darkness has a way of scaring us. I enjoyed this poem, an excellent write. God bless.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
Yes, I do believe you, been there and it's a familiar terrain to me too. At night, when it's dark, our imagination can be very creative and we tend to see things we don't really want to see. I don't really know why darkness has a way of scaring us. I enjoyed this poem, an excellent write. God bless.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
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Thank you very much for your warm comments and kind review, nassus1957. I very much appreciate it.
Comment from nancyjam
Strange noises and visions in the night can
certainly seem frightening to anyone especially
a young boy.
I love your descriptive lines which place
the reader out there in the dark with you.
I'm so glad it was just a barn owl.
I bet you were too! Nancy
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
Strange noises and visions in the night can
certainly seem frightening to anyone especially
a young boy.
I love your descriptive lines which place
the reader out there in the dark with you.
I'm so glad it was just a barn owl.
I bet you were too! Nancy
Comment Written 06-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2014
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Thanks so much for such a generous rating complimentary review, Nancy. Much obliged!
Comment from Bayberry
You did a super job expressing the chilling moments leading up to the discovery of the owl. The next verse is my favorite:
Upon a rusted weather vane,
sitting high atop the roof,
lone barn owl perched, its neck, then craned,
whilst gazing, so aloof...
When I used to have horses, we had a pole barn and it must not have been attractive to any owl-types because I never saw one around it. I love all kinds of animals and it would have been neat if one had taken up residence.
Enjoyed reading this so much!
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
You did a super job expressing the chilling moments leading up to the discovery of the owl. The next verse is my favorite:
Upon a rusted weather vane,
sitting high atop the roof,
lone barn owl perched, its neck, then craned,
whilst gazing, so aloof...
When I used to have horses, we had a pole barn and it must not have been attractive to any owl-types because I never saw one around it. I love all kinds of animals and it would have been neat if one had taken up residence.
Enjoyed reading this so much!
Comment Written 06-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
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Thanks very much, bayberry. I'm really happy that you enjoyed it.
It is odd you never saw any owls around the barn Maybe it had something to do with the horses, I'm not sure.
I based this on an actual incident from when I was a young boy. It is the first time I can remember being truly terrified. Seeing that white face in the dark, and hearing those screaming cries, you can just imagine what was going through a twelve-year-old boy's mind!
Thanks again.
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The barn was right next to our house and we were in there with the horses all the time. Probably too much human activity to suit their taste. :-)
Comment from omerta16
very cool, i really like how you alluded to such malevolence and potential terror but revealed something innocuous. Very clever but done with class, un-forced. The rhythm and flow of it helped keep it brisk and alive. All around a very cool poem that effectively causes the reader to briefly hold her breath and turn her head slightly to the side in speculation, waiting for fear to reveal its cause. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
very cool, i really like how you alluded to such malevolence and potential terror but revealed something innocuous. Very clever but done with class, un-forced. The rhythm and flow of it helped keep it brisk and alive. All around a very cool poem that effectively causes the reader to briefly hold her breath and turn her head slightly to the side in speculation, waiting for fear to reveal its cause. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
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Thanks very much, omerta16. I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
Comment from poet.wayne
Quite interesting! I've heard the barn owl's screeching quite often here...there are several old barns around my place. At first I had no idea what it was, I knew it wasn't a coyote's call, and I saw an owl perched on the fence, where it met the barn, at dusk, and put it all together.
Hearing one at just the right time, once, helped me in finishing a short story, when I was at a sticking point...
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
Quite interesting! I've heard the barn owl's screeching quite often here...there are several old barns around my place. At first I had no idea what it was, I knew it wasn't a coyote's call, and I saw an owl perched on the fence, where it met the barn, at dusk, and put it all together.
Hearing one at just the right time, once, helped me in finishing a short story, when I was at a sticking point...
Comment Written 06-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
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Thanks for validating their unique sound for me, poet.wayne. It's hard to describe to someone who's never heard it. Nothing like a hoo-hoot of most owls, thats for certain!
Comment from GWHARGIS
I like the style of this. The barn owl certainly gave the narrator a fright and I loved the eerie details of the call. There is some sort of owl that is in the woods behind our house and it's call sounds like a moaning woman. Late at night it can be quite creepy. Nicely done.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
I like the style of this. The barn owl certainly gave the narrator a fright and I loved the eerie details of the call. There is some sort of owl that is in the woods behind our house and it's call sounds like a moaning woman. Late at night it can be quite creepy. Nicely done.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2014
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It's probably a barn owl then, GWHARGIS. They certainly make some eerie sounds!
I appreciate your kind comments.