Poetry Corner with Ivy and Friends: January Poetry Challenge

Happy New Year! 

I would like to Welcome everyone to the revamped Poetry Corner with Ivy and Friends. We had a slight name change and we definitely have a new look. I am so happy and ecstatic to have you all here. 

The poetry challenges have returned with brand new twists and turns but most of all great fun. You'll notice that some of our seasoned poets have returned, which we love to have with us but you'll also noticed new poets, who can't wait to meet. 

With all this said, please pull up a comfy chair, a soft pillow, a beverage and enjoy some fantastic poetry.

POETRY CHALLENGE

Poets were asked to write a twisted horror poem that must include the words "Winter's Hollow."

It was up to the poet as to how the words would appear.

Winters Hollow by Jesse Batista

Take a walk with me through Winters Hollow
Where the bare willows creek and the dark mists follow
Where the trees throw shadows by the pale moonlight
And the frigid winds blow in the pitch of the night
Wandering, so lost, so cold, so chilled to the bone
This place so isolated, so remote; you’re all alone
Perhaps you’ve been joined by those who call
That sound wasn’t human no, not at all
You hear a sound, you turn to see
You couldn’t make out what it could be
Your pace quickens, your surroundings close in
Waves of confusion, you whirl and spin
Frantically looking for what may come
Fall to the ground shaking and numb
Terror takes over your mortal soul
Looking down in the blackness of a six foot hole
Bloodied body stiff and taut
You thought your efforts would lead to naught
You’re broken heart now filled with ominous dread
You’ve come to realize, you’re already dead.

Winter's Hollow by Donald Armfield

Her evil raises gooseflesh

bitter cold-death stricken

crawling under the skin

As survivors

we crave warmth

She holds out her arms

and we move in closer...

she squeezes tight and

her cold embrace

freezes to thy bone.

Instead of pleading with her,

we surrender and

retort as asked to:

"may we Winter,

by thy structures, thy pillars,

eternally yours

for your Winter Hollow."

And just like her cold snap

courses through our veins

freezing our last heart beat,

one last spit of vapor

and eternally icebound

we've become.

Creepers by Sebastian Andrews

Deep in the woods on a moonlit night.

Snow covered earth shimmers in the light.

Playing in a place you know you shouldn’t be.

Scoffing at the thought, you’ll set the truth free.

Wind whistles heavy with a deafening sound.

No other marks are imprinted in the ground.

Walking alone naïve and unaware.

Breathing in the cold, expelling mist to the air.

A rustling and some chatter break through the breeze.

Coming closer now, moving quickly through the trees.

Looking behind you, shadows dart from sight.

Running forward now with all your might.

Is the folklore, the legend just playing with your mind?

Or are the creepers just one deadly step behind?

Stop to catch your breath, look all around

Foot step after foot step, imprinted and abound

Hot foul breath laid upon your skin

Your blood spews, the pain lies within

Gasping and clawing, to your knees you fall

The legend of Winters Hollow not a fairytale after all.

The Witches' Pet by The Lozt Poet

Hiding in the dense fog living in the shadows,

There lives a vile and wicked creature that everybody knows.

It sits and waits until the time is right,

When the fog rolls in and it can hunt while staying out of sight.

It's vision is unimpaired by nature's white shroud,

The darkness is it's friend allowing it to move between the crowd.

The thick white clouds that hover above the street,

Allow it to stay hidden while it searches for something to eat.

This thing lurks inside the fog waiting to quench his appetite,

It picks and chooses its next prey and kills them with one bite.

It roams through the streets staying inside the fog and mist,

It sniffs the air for that one smell that it simply can't resist.

It takes no prisoners and this my friend is true,

This thing won't just take any man, it will take women and children too.

This thing which hunts and feasts all day and night without a care,

Legend say that it was conjured up as a curse for man in Winter's Hollow,

by the witches who live there.

Winter's Hollow by Matt Hay

Alone she lies, tied and broken

Her mouth is gagged, so no words are spoken

It is cold, dark and she is all alone

The pain in her side forces out a moan

Her eyes open, she sees a lamp

Bunk beds surround her, just like camp

Is that a figure on the bed?

It looks like an arm or maybe a head?

Look there, it moved, just a tad

Or maybe it didn't, is she going mad?

The moon passes by and the room gets brighter

She pulls on the shackles but they just get tighter

This places reminds her of Winter's Hollow

Where kids came to play and their siblings would follow

Never to return, for within lies a beast

That has never been seen, not in the least

Could that be what is on the top bunk?

She could be dreaming, perhaps she is drunk.

Suddenly, movement is seen from above

And hanging from the bed is an arm, then a glove

Struggling hard, she tries to escape

Before she is killed or subjected to rape

The ropes won't budge, she cannot get out

The figure drops down, then turns about

Panic sets in, at what lies ahead

Her face turns crimson, then three other shades of red

It's face is groteque, like it has been badly burned

It's stench is unbearable, like a hundred eggs turned

A claw extends, as it approaches at pace

It raises it's arm before slashing her face

The pain is searing, the agony is intense

The fear intensifies, she starts to tense

The beast turns into a three headed hound

Each head snarling as it's paws start to pound

Slashing and biting, she is soon a mess

Her life flashes before her, she starts to confess

About all the things she's done wrong

She started slowly but the list is long

The blood runs freely, she will die soon

She finally collapses after a dramatic swoon

She drowns in her own vomit, which she cannot swallow

As she become just another victim, of the Beast of Winter's Hollow.

THE END!

BRAVO!

Now that is one awesome way to start out this new poetry corner year off. Thank you poets for once again giving it your all and allowing us to take a journey into your imaginations. No one poem is ever the same and that is what makes these challenges so much fun. I really enjoyed reading all. I look forward to reading more poems as the challenges continue.

Friends, what did you think?

Please leave your comments below.

I know the poets would love to hear from all of you.

Join in on the fun of the poetry challenges.

FEBRUARY POETRY CHALLENGE

Mirror Mirror.

Participants are asked to write 2 poems. The 1st poem is to be a poem about magic. The type of magic is up to the writer. The 2nd poem will be the mirror reflection of that 1st poem.

We all know what see in the mirror isn't really the reflection our minds see. What kind of reflection will your words reveal?

All poems are to be submitted by Feb 26, 2018 @9pm EST, to me, Ivy Valori, via email posionivysnbv@gmail.com.

In the subject write "poetry corner challenge submission."

There are two official poetry corner challenge rules that I ask you follow, the first is to please keep all submission poems private. They may not be shared on any kind of social media. All submissions will only been seen by me, Ivy, when you turn them in. Once the poetry challenge has been posted, your poems can be shared as your wish to share them. The second rule is to have all the fun in the world when creating your poem. Follow the challenge instructions and all will go well.


A special thank you note goes to Mystygen Photography for the beautiful photograph that covers the outside of the blogs main website banner and the lovely Poetry Corner with Ivy and Friends logo banner. The photographers at Mystygen are amazing and very talented. I highly recommend you take a look at their official website and get in contact with them.
Click here: Mystygen Photography