I
The house has stood alone for years,
A corpse there in that bleak morass;
And Death from every corner leers,
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
Old stones have toppled, moldy, cracked
Amid the thorns and withered grass;
The feet of countless ghosts have tracked
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
Dim shadows line the corridors
A cobweb drapes each looking-glass
And grime has streaked the leaf-strewn floors
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
The house has stood alone for years
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
II
Its hangings billow in the wind
Before the broken window glass;
Their violet folds are tattered, thinned
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
The candles all are ancient pools
Upon the tarnished mantle brass;
A scourge of damp each chamber rules
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
No voice again will echo there
No human through the halls will pass
No footfall warm the rotted stair
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
Its hangings billow in the wind
Where ivy grows its vines amass.
Author notes
I think I was partly inspired to write this because of Satis House in Great Expectations. . .(I categorized it as Portrait because there's no action in it, I'm just describing what it looks like. . .)
A contest entry
- Give me your best by condor.
2600 points, ended August 20, 193 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - 10 Options {Pre-writes aloud} by Little Lesley.
700 points, ended August 28, 109 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
what do you think of it
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
-
Oh this is BEAUTIFUL! It has so many beauties! "thorns and withered grass" I love your description of the toppled stones. "And grime has streaked the leaf-strew floors". There's not one thing extra: not one sound or stress that is not expressive! I love the hangings in the first stanza of part two: they're beautifully described! Well, i give it an honorary platinum!
-
-
ah, thank you muchly, Purrs
I'm delighted you think so 
-
-
This is brilliant- rather creepy. I love your imagination.
Good Luck.
♥~Little Lesley~♥ -
Wow, this is awesome. I really wish i could write like this. Please, keep raising the bar, and set a challenge for rising poets!
-
-
thanks for your comment
glad to hear you say it's "awesome" - I'm pleased. . . 
Elinor
-
-
This is beautifully penned and a joy to read. You raise the bar for writing in the dark genre. I think this is original and inspiring.
Love,
Amera♥
-
Very nice job on this poem. I loved your use of rhyme throughout the piece. A rhyme scheme I've always been partial too "abab" I especially liked how you ended each stanza with the word "amass" must have been a challenge. Nice work
-Steve-
-
This was wonderful; it had a very Eusebian tone to it, if you understand me: that style of iambic tetrameter that often describes something eerie or spooky. It was, of course, done nigh perfection, with wonderful imagery throughout. Marvellously done, Elinor. Keep it up!
Dan
-
-
yes, I understand. . .
I love the way he writes; therefore, I often try to do the same thing - in my way, of course. . . glad you like
-
-
Yes, an amazing and most brilliant write here, reminiscent of Poe, Lovecraft and Smith. Flawless and lyrical in presentation, huge kudos are due to the writer of this fine and most spooky write!!!
-
-
thank you muchly, Mike
-
-
This is stunning. The imagery is amazing, and your use of form is wonderful. The refrain(s) worked extremely well. Great write from beginning to end.
Adding your comment:
1 - 12 of 12
