Whisper...

An all-pervading silence…

            No din to pierce the night

Then, I heard one whispered word;

            No shadow was in sight

 

Syllables familiar

            Seemed foreign on this air

An ominous, foreboding voice

Delivered all despair

 

No moonlight or sweet candle flame

            Illuminate my soul

Absolution comes too late;

            My spirit is unwhole

 

And in this vast and lightless place

            Again, the whisper came

The sibilant sigh, beckoning…

           

            …How does it know my name?

 

Author's Note

Happy Halloween :)

Reviews

[Marie]

It's like your own ghost is calling you...

[Rita L. Sev]

I hope he stays away... until next Halloween...

[Frieda P]

Spooky Rita, I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention whilst reading, chilling read, perfect night for it too!

[Rita L. Sev]

So happy to be creeping people out! ;) Thanks, Frieda!

[richom]

It probably has been reading your poems here. This will make us hide under our beds tonight (Halloween). The rhyme and meter are, of course, flawless. But what makes this truly extraordinary is how you wove the multi-syllabic words into such short lines while maintaining the cadence. "The sibilant sigh, beckoning..." Superb.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much for your review, Rich - I agonized over that line, worried about exactly that. I can always count on you to see and appreciate the meter and rhyme - and believe me, I appreciate YOU for that!

[Sheila Kline]

Yikes, I hope it doesn't know my name!!!
Spooky and spine tingling Rita! I like the more serious tone of your Halloween write! 'Tis very good!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Sheila! I had to go all out on the actual day! :)

[Sheila Kline]

And you did in a wonderful way!! It is really good!!

[icelandicblue]

Ooh- they always know your name and we know there is power in knowing your name. Just the right amount of creepy.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Blue!

[Caradoc]

Oh that is creepy.

Excellent word choice and I like how you rhymed. The ending was strong and cemented that feeling of foreboding. It really makes one wonder, what could it have been that killed the narrator? And what exactly is whispering out their name?

My money's on the Reaper, of course. I hear tell he has all our names on a long list somewhere.

Well done. I enjoyed this immensely.

-Caradoc

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Caradoc! Yes, I had the Reaper in mind - he knows our names, and when to call. There is a great quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Death tugs at my ear. 'Live!' he says. 'I am coming.'"

[jacob erin-cilberto]

okay, this is boo scary...that one word, that name, my name.

love it.

[Rita L. Sev]

:) Thank you, Jacob.

[Jack...]

Pretty darn creepy there my friend. Rock on Rita.

[Rita L. Sev]

Cool! Wasn't sure if this would come off as creepy or just a little darker than usual. Thanks, Jack!

[Jack...]

Definitely creepy if you take the time to absorb it.