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Hi, Megan. I did the poetry journal on Sundays for quite awhile after our class; then overtaken by my novel and poetry work. Now you've lure me back in. I loved that this poem came from Mexican Gothic, a novel that intrigued me when it came out and is now in my Amazon cart. I'm not a fan of horror, which I see de la Mare wrote a lot, but I do love paranormal, so I liked this poem ... and have written one inspired. Reunion in the Dark is my first shot at blank verse, so I've got the rhythm down!

Reunion in the Dark

The shadow moved within the chill of dusk

a vapor not quite there, it slinked like ink

spilt from a crystal well, eased to nothing

in vales of night. A black tom found its way

veiled in darkness, faint gait in search of ghouls

seen in night, eyes locked on whimsical light

swirled round him … kitty, kitty, kitty come

called a soul. Which was real, which was spectral?

The tinkle of a bell called the two nigh,

a collar lay in moonlight, old and blue,

and I reached and lifted the relic, saw

my old black cat rally to live anew.

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Sandra, thanks so much for sharing this poem! I love the "kitty, kitty, kitty come / called a soul." I am not a cat person, but my daughter has a cat, and there does seems to be something very soul-like in this species.

I have written a review of "Mexican Gothic" at Goodreads, if you want to hear my unvarnished opinion. I read something scary about once a year, usually as autumn falls.

Thanks so much for sharing your poem!!

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