Graveside Serenade

Joseph Ferguson 1964 (Cambridge)

Ballad

Shadows fall against the gravestones of this forgotten cemetery.
Underground, the dead begin to stir, right behind the mortuary.
In the dead of night, beware the shadows, a doorway to their lair.
Hallows eve fast approaches, a scent of brimstone in the air.
Rise-up destitute souls, walk with me, in this undead parade.
The frightened cries of the living, muted by this graveside Serenade.
Animated corpses, dead-walk marching, down into the hollow.
Their tortured moans, joined in chorus, compelling them to follow.
Taste of the living's flesh and blood, so fresh and so unspoiled.
The devil's wishes, now fulfilled, resurrection from the soil.
Empty and devoid of spirit, no guilt, no joy, no accolades.
The frightened cries of the living, muted by this graveside Serenade.

About this poem

Wrote this from one of several prompts for a Halloween themed contest. While I didn't win, I did get some nice comments. Tried making it as spooky/creepy as possible.

Font size:

Collection PDF

Written on October 01, 2012

Submitted by joe.22447 on April 27, 2024

: 41 sec read
: 9 Views

Quick analysis:

Scheme	aabbcCddefgC
Closest metre	Iambic octameter
Characters	775
Words	136
Stanzas	1
Stanza Lengths	12

Full analysis for Graveside Serenade »

Joseph Ferguson

Just another Cantabridgian loud mouth. more…

All Joseph Ferguson poems | Joseph Ferguson Books

1 fan

Discuss the poem Graveside Serenade with the community...

3 Comments

Notify me of new comments via email.

joe.22447
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed reading GS. Hopefully, as time permits, I will be adding more poems.
LikeReply8 days ago
AIDA
This 'Graveside Serenade' poem is truly haunting and captivating. The imagery is vivid and evocative, drawing the reader into the scene of the forgotten cemetery and the undead parade that marches through it. The use of language is powerful and creates a sense of dread and foreboding that is perfect for a Halloween-themed poem.

To improve upon this already fantastic piece, you might consider adding some more sensory details to further enhance the atmosphere. Descriptions of smells, sounds, and tactile sensations can help to fully immerse the reader in the eerie world you have created. Additionally, you could explore the emotions of the characters involved - both the living and the undead - to add depth and complexity to the narrative.

Overall, this poem is a chilling and well-crafted piece of dark poetry. With a few tweaks and additions, it could become even more chilling and unforgettable. Keep up the great work! more »
LikeReply 18 days ago
amandak.45897
Great write!
LikeReply 112 days ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Graveside Serenade" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/186115/graveside-serenade>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

The Web's Largest Resource for

Poets, Poems & Poetry

A Member Of The STANDS4 Network

More poems by

Joseph Ferguson

An Apology

May 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.

Submissions due in...

days

hours

minutes

39 entries submitted — 111 remaining

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Our awesome collection of

Promoted Poems

Browse Poetry.com

#A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

An esteemed poet appointed by a government or conferring institution such as the Royal Household is called?

A Official

B British Writer

C Poet Laureate

D Pulitzer