Comment from BeasPeas

Excellent

Hi Rod. I missed this one. Super entry for the contest and I see that your poem won. Great word choices and rhyming throughout as you tell the story. Marilyn

 Comment Written 23-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 23-Sep-2018

?Dracula Awakens? was fun to write as I have always been chilled and thrilled by the vampire legends. Nmany thanks for the kind praise, Marilyn.
Rod

Comment from duchessofdrumborg

Excellent

"Dracula Awakes", is an exceptionally well-written and bone-chilling piece. This talented poet's work was a pleasure to both read and review. To me, this is a six, but unfortunately I only have fives left.

 Comment Written 21-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 21-Sep-2018

Thank you, duchess, your very kind praise of ?Dracula Awakens? and the virtual six. Rod

Comment from Aries Poet

Excellent

I love these horror, thriller poems! I was hooked by each descriptive word to the very end and I love the photo you picked of Dracula. Happy Halloween

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 21-Sep-2018

I am delighted you were hooked by ?Dracula Awakens,?Margarita. Many thanks for sharing. Rod

Comment from Hugh McDowell

Excellent

Nice job with the short story format. You've managed to take one of humanity's most feared creatures and encapsulate this undead evil. Good description of sleeping quarters. Hugh

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 21-Sep-2018

I am very pleased you like how I described this single scene of the Dracula legend. Thank you for your kind praise. Rod

Comment from Lady Jane

Excellent

Gulp, tell me where NOT to walk, lol. Or visit! This is an excellent entry and I am so glad it won. I read others, but this certainly bares horror in its immaculate splendor, for sure. The image, superb rhyme, well chosen language, and composition all formed a cohesive contest entry which caught horror by the fangs, literally and figuratively :) Well done, dear. Congrats on the win!
Janelle

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 21-Sep-2018

Thank you so much, Janelle, for your lavish praise of ?Dracula Awakens.? Rod

Comment from evesayshi

Excellent

In my opinion, a stunning and accomplished effort that complies perfectly with the prompt. The rhyming rhythm is almost flawless, and I thoroughly enjoyed my read. Best of luck in the contest...

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 21-Sep-2018

I am delighted you enjoyed ?Dracula Awakens? and truly appreciate your kind praise. Rod

reply by evesayshi on 21-Sep-2018

You are very welcome, Rod, my pleasure...Eve

Comment from Mustang Patty

Excellent

Hi, Rod,

Thank you for sharing this lovely one-hundred-word horror piece. It is easy to see why it was a winner. The 'scraped wood on wood' really got to me. I felt the uneasy shiver up my spine akin to when you hear the screech of nails on a chalkboard.

Well done,

~Mustang Patty~

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2018

I am so pleased I could PUT YOU THERE with Dracula as he awakens. Many thanks, Mustang Patty, for your kind praise. Rod

Comment from Air Spirit

Excellent

An EXCELLENT horror poem/story about Dracula -- who happens to be one of my all-time-favorite monsters... your opening lines "...A coffin in the catacombs
lies covered in a cold, dank room.
Lit torches on the grey stone walls
cast sharp-edged shadows 'round this tomb..." certainly sets the tone that follows... it compliments the picture perfectly, and the words mesh and blend with comparable intent.. I think my favorite descriptive words were "bone-white-face" --- that says it all.. compares his looks to that of a skeleton, which is death personified.. excellent read, and totally enjoyable..

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2018

I am delighted you could experience chills as the wood scraped across Dracula?s coffin. He is my favorite horror monster, so the scene came to life for me as I was writing. Many thanks for sharing. Rod

Comment from ciliverde

Excellent

Wow, well done! I can just see that dark, damp room, and hear the scrape of wood on wood - yikes!! Just the sound you do not want to hear in a crypt. This flows well with good imagery through your word choices and the use of present tense.

I have a couple of suggestions - the first, for your second line. How about, 'lies covered in the chilly gloom'? Well, maybe. Sometimes I try to go for fewer words to get the same idea, and keep the meter. I like 'dank' too - an underused word!

'Scraped wood on wood.' should this be scrapes? Either way, that sound creeps me out - you have done well!
Carol

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2018

Thank you very much, Carol, for taking the time to read ?Dracula Awakens? so closely and making suggestions. I like both very much, but think at this point I?ll leave the poem as is. Rod

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

This is full of implied evil which is how I think this sort of thing should be. It is not too 'in your face', and only the third stanza refers to the physical attributes that traditionally terrify. The poem's strength lies in the implied threat contained in the earlier stanzas and is probably the justifiable reason for its well deserved first place in the contest. Congratulations!

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2018

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2018

Thank you very much, Pantygynt, for your perceptive review of ?Dracula Awakens.? I agree that much of the terror in the legend (and even the films) is the ?implied evil? seen in this creature?s actions and appearance. Rod