The quiet loners that you rarely see
may wish, like you, for friends and company,
but with their sympathetic human side
they may possess a face they need to hide.
To save the bond with their humanity,
they limit ties to their community.
Those lonesome folks may stay away from town
for fear their company would drag you down.
They don’t believe that others might resent
a person’s kind and gracious temperament,
but their personas when the moon is round
would end acceptance that they might have found.
And if you never see them out at night,
when there’s a silver moon that’s full and bright,
it’s not because they fear the moonlit dark,
but more the raging panic they would spark.
For if their hirsute natures came to light,
their fellow men would turn on them in fright.
Their cool reserve is not misanthropy,
but evidence of true philanthropy.
It mitigates their chronic tendency
for episodes of savage lunacy.
Although some social skills may atrophy,
this curbs exposure to lycanthropy.
To say that lycanthropes are more than men
and not as human as they might have been,
does not imply that they are less humane
or that they lust to cause you fear and pain.
Although they might attack you now and then,
they always feel regret and deep chagrin.
The legends of les loups-garous persist,
but few today believe that they exist.
Yet, do you find their myths and legends quaint
because the werewolves practice self-restraint?
Might they who both of man and wolf consist
have learned to live with urges they resist?
But, please, excuse me now, I must depart.
You see, I live a little way apart,
and for myself I’ve found it isn’t wise
to linger when this moon is on the rise.
Nor would I have you see the madness start,
for harm to you would vex a werewolf’s heart.
Author notes
This is most influenced by Lon Chaney Jr's portrayal of the title character, Lawrence Talbot, in the George Waggner directed 1941 film, "The Wolf Man".
In a list
A contest entry
- WordBank or Picture Prompt or Both by rainyday woman.
600 points, ended June 25, 2008, 7 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Dead Poet's Society (the awakening) by Dark Otter.
1000 points, ended July 23, 2008, 14 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Wolf Within by blackrosesteph.
450 points, ended August 13, 2008, 11 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Vampires & Lycans (Werewolves) by upperworld06.
550 points, ended November 13, 2008, 29 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - What Kind of Monster are you?? by Night Terrors.
400 points, ended April 15, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Werewolves Contest! Come on don't be shy. by whitefirewolf09.
1059 points, ended October 12, 19 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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I like it alot. The rhyming didn't seem forced at all and blended together very nicely. I like it. Good luck in my contest.
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Congratulations on winning the gold! This was a great poem. I liked the rhyming and how your story unfolded. Also, nice imagry.
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Bravo!!!!!!!!
Wow this was so great! I love werewolves! I think this is one of the most clever pretrial of them I have ever read. I think this is a winner. I think the blight of the werewolf as a miss understood being is not often shown enough. We focus way to much on the guts and the gore. I really liked your change of pace.
The Positives:
This is a great poem full of some spectacular imagery and some very deep emotion. I think it kind of reminds me of Blood and Chocolate ( The book not the movie). It had an almost romantic feel to it that I found very appealing.
The Negatives:
Some forced Rhyming in places, but nothing major. On a whole this was an extremely well written work of art, and while I don’t normally like rhymed poetry I am finding that this poem is one of my favorites in this contest.
My Favorite part:
The legends of les loups-garous persist,
but few today believe that they exist.
Yet, do you find their myths and legends quaint
because the werewolves practice self-restraint?
Might they who both of man and wolf consist
have learned to live with urges they resist?
This part was just plain beautiful! I perfect example of some amazing poetry.
Overall:
I must say at first I was kind of skeptical, but you won me over in no time flat. I am glad you entered this. I give you a 9/10. I am adding you to the finalist list and I hope to see you in my future contests.
~*~ Apathetic Poison~*~
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Thanks for the comment which considered both content and elements of form, the best kind of critique of poetry.
Thank you very much as well for your evaluation of this in your contest in which some of my favorite poets have entries. It is always nice to be highly regarded by and among our peers!
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Wonderful and educational
I thank you for the insite to these mistaken creations what so ofter are abused and not for what they do but rumors of what they have done
Good Luck in the contest -
aw dude this is awesome! i love how you didn't know he was a lycan till the end so it was kinda like BANG! lol sorry for going on, god job and good luc
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I love this, putting a very human spin on things. And the last verse is awesome
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Well, being a werewolf is more about being human than the wolf. In its lycan manifestation the savagery of the werewolf is more like human insanity than the natural and necessary predatory instinct of the noble wolf. It is a fine human being, however, who recognizes his or her issues with society and takes steps to prevent harm to others. This is the cultural view of werewolves I prefer, and the kind of human I would like to emulate.
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Fantastic Poem
This is a fantastic poem. It's really well thought out, really well written and a very good and interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this, thankyou for sharing it with me. I wish you all Good Luck in the contest, I'm sure you'll do well with this. All my very best wishes from Rose xx
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, Rose-quartz, my favorite stone and color of my favorite deserts!
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This will take multiple reads.
Gorgeous rhyme in Iambic Pentameter, I didn't expect a poem of this caliber in the contest. This is a strong entry that will definitely get its due. I love the thought that you put into this. Just an awesome read.
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Thanks for the comment, the contest and for the mention of honor I rec'd!
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"Make them real. Make them three dimensional. Speak for them, feel for them, show their true desires."
Although my entry is a pre-write, I felt it responded pretty well to your contest advice noted above. I'm glad you like it, and thank you very much for commenting.
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Yes, I remember this now. I was absolutely enchanted, at about four in the morning, and too sleepy to reply! I love the way that this was set up. Descriptive, then engaging, and the end came as a delightful shock! Well, Well, my furry friend. Congratulations on the silver. Perhaps there can be companions amongst out kinds after all...? *winks, toothy grin*
~Amy
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I liked your piece very much and like I said I wish I could give gold to more then one. Thank you for entering my contest and congrats on the silver, though I know Lycans stay away from silver as much as possible.
Cheryl -
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Thanks!
Getting the silver was great, and thanks for that also, but thanks especially for the last line of your comment. That was a very unexpected and fun laugh!
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This is the absolute best werewolf poem I have ever read! Most wade gleefully in blood lust and gore, this shows the caring human side of the creatures. The last stanza was the perfect twist to give the reader another shiver
This was the best read I've enjoyed in awhile! Well done!!!
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The film with Lon Chaney Jr. as the Werewolf is the greatest influence on this poem, but other films and television productions have portrayed the creature in a sympathetic light as well. I think they work much better as human interest stories vs. gore-fests.
Thank you very much for your enthusiastic comment! I enjoy reading this aloud with a voice that deepens to a cautionary growl with the last verse. You identified the part of the poem that is the most fun for me, too!
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OMG. This is the best freaking poem I've read in this catergory. Wow!!
I love the flow of this piece, and the way you talk about the loners is amazing.
I love all of the metaphors. I usually can't relate to werewolf poetry but this..yeah I can.
Very nicely done!
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Thank you for catching that this was about loners more than the legendary creature which may be based in part on just such people.
Some of us know we do better by ourselves than among others. We are aware that if we spend too much time with people we are sooner or later going to say or do something that may scar a psyche or even the flesh and bone of another person who has done nothing to deserve this from us.
The poem is influenced by stories and films that avoid the concept of the werewolf as a ravenous brute of a beast that despises its weaker, restrained human side. In these portrayals the crazed wolf is an alternate personality of a good and decent person who does what he can to avoid exposing others to it.
Of course, wolves are generally not particularly savage creatures. Being carnivores they are constrained to kill and eat, but in their societies they are supportive and even sacrificial to the needs of their pack mates and to the pack as a whole.
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Ah, hm...I cannot help but smile at your words...what an, ironic, situation...that I would so enjoy a poem about the humanity of my furry "enemy"...and I do enjoy it...though the colorful vocabulary you use does tend to get a bit...boring? No...maybe...well, either way, this is a decent work...not great...not by far, as it has no...exceptional qualities...forgettable...yes, that's the word. No matter, however, as I believe this is the best piece in the contest by now...so...good luck, I suppose.
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Well, thanks, you sick, twisted, pathetic man. I expect to forget your comment with its unexceptional quality about as quickly as I finish this reply. See ya round when the moon is full and bright!
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