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Mike
Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462


0 posted 2000-06-23 10:46 PM




                Far off in the distance, I hear a tolling bell,
                I walk along in cadence, encaptured in its spell,
                I am just a traveller, passing by this way,
                When I top that final hill, on cold December day.

                A biting wind comes out the north, soon will its teeth spit snow,
                An icy chill runs down my spine, as gaze on scene below,
                Three people stand beside a grave, wood coffin lays inside,
                Behind white church with tolling bell, a cold day to have died.

                I think perhaps inside the church, some warmth that I will find,
                So I walk towards the three, to ask if they would mind,
                They stand in total silence, no sorrow can I see,
                As I approach, three turn away, no word they say to me.

                The bell is tolling louder now, as I stand alone,
                Gazing down on open grave, beside a blank tombstone,
                I look aound for mourners, no longer see the three,
                Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the Holy Trinity.

                Leafless trees above hang low, o'er deep and silent grave,
                Winter is descending, soon will the land enslave,
                Dark skies above foreboding, not yet a snowflake shed,
                In grip of icy tenacle, feel touch of recent dead.

                Soul's despair of haunting sorrow, hangs from the lifeless trees,
                Clouds of terror reaching out, bell's tolling death decrees,
                With mournful soul and somber limbs, am touched by lifeless breath,
                At frozen grave stand face to face, with unrelenting death.

                From the church's steeple, the bell tolls louder yet,
                Within my mind a madness, the tolling has beset,
                Do you hear the tolling, the tolling of the bell?
                O' God, please stop the tolling, I hear my own death knell.

© Copyright 2000 Mike - All Rights Reserved
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
1 posted 2000-06-23 10:49 PM


Mike, it's as if E.A. Poe himself came to life and guided your hand....and that's the greatest compliment I can give anyone. Excellent writing......
Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

2 posted 2000-06-23 10:55 PM


I am awestruck by this poem
amazing...
the imagery is bone chilling
the rhyme is perfect ...
hauntngly beautiful
jm

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2000-06-23 11:10 PM


Mike~
Wow !
What a wonderfully presented tale.
You amaze me with your versatility.
~*Marge*~


~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com



Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
4 posted 2000-06-24 12:47 PM


ALRIGHT!!!!!!  Way to go, Mike...this is a wonderful poem!
bsquirrel
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855

5 posted 2000-06-24 12:58 PM


Mike,
Yet again you make me glad I can read. I love your poetry.

Mike (ii)

Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
6 posted 2000-06-24 01:18 AM


I know when I read your work, I won't be disappointed...and I'm not. Excellent!
AVANTI
Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 664
INDIA/MAHARASHTRA/PUNE
7 posted 2000-06-24 07:25 AM


awesome poem very well written
I feel like i can hear the bells toll

If all was light...then I would have never learnt the dark...from which such truth evolves
from which evolves the light...
Avanti Rao


Munda
Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544
The Hague, The Netherlands
8 posted 2000-06-24 06:37 PM


Mike ! Uitmuntend ! (Now go and ask your friend what that means hehe )
X Angel
Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521
Oregon
9 posted 2000-06-24 07:50 PM


I *shiver* to have read this Mike. Incredible writing, and I have to go along with 'Deer in saying "POE"....I love EAP!

~H

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

10 posted 2000-06-24 08:39 PM


This is definitely one of your best and one of my favorites!  

Denise

sea_of_okc
Senior Member
since 1999-06-15
Posts 568
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
11 posted 2000-06-25 02:01 PM


Yessir, this is a great one.
Christopher J
Member
since 2000-06-21
Posts 94

12 posted 2000-06-25 07:53 PM


Yes, this definately has my vote!  I think we are all travellers and i think and hope that God hears my prayers, such a sad ending!
Mike
Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462

13 posted 2000-06-27 11:36 PM


Thank you all ever so much for your exceedingly gracious and generous comments.
Glad you all enjoyed and now I have to go call my Dutch friend and see what Munda said... *smile*

Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

14 posted 2000-06-28 02:39 AM


Simply stunning, Mike.

Flawless rhythm - it immersed me...

K

WhtDove
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245
Illinois
15 posted 2000-07-20 12:31 PM


Check 4th stanza, 3rd line.

This was an excellent poem! I give you my applause!

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
16 posted 2000-07-20 03:53 AM


Mike, what a view you have presented here, on the outside looking in and then the grave reality (no pun intended) of facing death. The fear of the unknown so well expressed.... I got to vote this one in....
Not A Poet
Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885
Oklahoma, USA
17 posted 2000-07-20 09:40 AM


Excellent Mike, gives me an eerie feeling.

Thanks,
Pete

Heather Miller
Member
since 2000-07-19
Posts 409
Bryan, Ohio USA
18 posted 2000-07-20 12:20 PM


moving writting.
LITL,
Heather

With God all things are possible.

Meadowmuse
Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263

19 posted 2000-07-26 10:52 AM


A story woven into and from out of the darkness of one's mind...I've always loved this one.

~ Claire

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau


Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

20 posted 2000-08-06 08:48 PM


Another wonderful poem that I wish I could vote for again!

Denise

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