VanRyan

Member since December 3, 2020

Member for 5 years, 6 months

member

76 Poems

163 Comments

2 Followers

Most recent

Swamp Hags

Posted Mar 3, 2021 · 24 lines · 7 critiques

Above the swamp, lights wink and wave
“This way,” in eerie glow.
Beware! These false will-o'-the-wisps
Mean Death; he waits below.

I curb my horse . . . . Whoa, stop ol’ nag!
Oh, soon enough . . . too soon,
The swamp hags’ lair will come in view--
I wish for a full moon.

I check my flashlight’s dimming light;
It merely casts a glint.
There is the morass I must cross,
My mare breaks into sprint.

Her nostrils flare, she snorts and neighs,
Then rears and bolts in fear--

Read the rest of the poem Show less

I take a fall, and then I know--
Those swamp hags are quite near.

Nell rears and bolts into the night,
And I lie on the ground;
The furies come in boiling mist--
With piercing, cackling sound.

In frenzied lust the swamp hags whirl
Around me, screeching till
My frightened heart and senses fail
And I yield to their will.

VanRyan’s timeline

December 2025
03 Wed

Anniversary
5 years of membership
December 2021
03 Fri

Anniversary
One year of membership
October 2021
04 Mon

Received a critique
on A Valentine Sonnet 21 from @Breakinglogic
"Jerry, pardon the random comment, I've had this open in a browser tab for months ha! I enjoyed this Valentine's sonnet. The diction seemed to fit the format well. I really like the way line 7 turned out. It is very phon…"
March 2021
06 Sat

Received a critique
on Swamp Hags from @scribbler
"bit disappointed. I saw the title and expected a poem about Hillary and Harris lol"
05 Fri

Received a critique
on Swamp Hags from @Gracy
"Oh my, those furies are terrifying! Well written, I love your style, end rhymes and imagery. No nits. Hope you're still alive...lol. Gracy"
04 Thu

Received a critique
on Swamp Hags from @Lavender
"Hi, Jerry, Eerie stuff! (Not sure if I want to know what happens next.) Well written, gave me chills, actually. Thank you! L"
04 Thu

Received a critique
on Swamp Hags from @Geezer
"you have been hanging around with Ichabod again! I told you that he would leave your ass hanging, if you ran into trouble. Well, at least they had their way with you. I hope that you had a snoot full; old Hilda is kinda…"
03 Wed

Posted a poem
Swamp Hags
"Above the swamp, lights wink and wave"
Open thread 24 lines
01 Mon

Critiqued
"The Truth As I See It" by @c lynn brooks
"beware of people that will announce "I'll tell you the truth," because you know, a big fat lie is forthcoming. In general, everyone has the truth as they perceive it. Take this from one who knows, lol. Nice write, Chrys."
February 2021
28 Sun

Received a critique
on A Restless Night from @c lynn brooks
"you just amaze me with your talent"
28 Sun

Received a critique
on A Restless Night from @Geezer
"Miss Becky must come 'round to see if you will reveal more of your naked charm! My guess is that she has been sitting on her Harley with a pair of binoculars, just out of sight of your wife, trying to entice you out for…"
28 Sun

Posted a poem
A Restless Night
"An endless night in mid-July."
Open thread 32 lines
27 Sat

Critiqued
"Prisoner In Disguise" by @c lynn brooks
"your last two strophes express so much. "No man (or woman) is an Island," in particular a woman. Go for it, dear lady. Wishing you the very best, Jerry"
27 Sat

Received a critique
on Sonnet 13 to forbidden Love from @c lynn brooks
"oh my such beauty in your writing . Never stop writing I look forward to your next poem did ya'll get that door knob fixed lol"
27 Sat

Posted a poem
Sonnet 13 to forbidden Love
"Your beauty did not wane with fleeting cheer;"
Open thread 14 lines
26 Fri

Posted a poem
Conversing with the Moon
"Moon, in your silence,"
Open thread 37 lines
26 Fri

Critiqued
"My Moon" by @Lavender
"the moon has been the subject of many hundreds of poems and stories; even I have praised Diana, the moon goddess, on numerous occasions. The face of the moon with its peaks and valleys displays forms that may resemble…"
24 Wed

Posted a poem
A Morning Pandemonium
"Tan-gray mottled, her tongue hangs out"
Open thread 22 lines
23 Tue

Posted a poem
Futile Sighs (Orfeo's Lament)
"Words of love I whisper"
Open thread 22 lines
23 Tue

Critiqued
"Snowman" by @Lavender
"oh, such artistry in snow deserves a prize. Reminds me of my first wood sculpture that prompted me to retire mallet and chisel. I had to join into the chorus of laughter . Your depiction of the snowman had that effect o…"
22 Mon

Most-discussed work
Just one more Spring

12 critiques to date.
22 Mon

Posted a poem
Just one more Spring
"Dear God in Heaven, it is time"
Open thread 20 lines
20 Sat

Posted a poem
The Tarot Reader
"Canto I"
Open thread 40 lines
19 Fri

Critiqued
"Perseverance" by @Lavender
"I'm not "Your favorite Martian," rather a denizen from the chocolate pudding Remorea, nearly 50,000 light-years away from the Red Planet--which I intend to populate with women from Venus and men from Mars . . . . Seriou…"
19 Fri

Posted a poem
Freefall
"Should you visit the cloud-filled"
Open thread 23 lines
17 Wed

Posted a poem
The Deluge
"When clouds amass,"
Open thread 18 lines
16 Tue

Critiqued
"A Poem - A Villanelle" by @Lavender
"I find your poem quite astonishing; so well done. Brava. Love it! Jerry"
14 Sun

Posted a poem
My Country ‘Tis of Thee
"Surrounded by fruit trees"
Open thread 26 lines
12 Fri

Critiqued
"Unfiltered <---- (February contest entry)" by @Thalassa Brytaye
"laughed my--shirt off! Jerry"
11 Thu

Posted a poem
A Valentine Sonnet 21
"When I compare my wife to any one"
Open thread 14 lines
05 Fri

Critiqued
"The Tragic Tale" by @Lavender
"oh, your poem is soooooo delicious, and if I had small children (heaven forbid).I would treat them to a read of your witty poem. It is also a treat for over-the-hill fellows, like me. Please, do not worry about copy rig…"
January 2021
29 Fri

New follower
@c lynn brooks
15 Fri

Highest posting month
January 2021 — 23 poems
December 2020
15 Tue

New follower
@Thalassa Brytaye
05 Sat

First critique offered
on "Mutated Thoughts..." by @Geezer
04 Fri

First publication
The Passing Star (an opus one)
03 Thu

Joined Neopoet
Membership begins

First poem published 1 days later.

5 years of membership

One year of membership

on A Valentine Sonnet 21 from @Breakinglogic

on Swamp Hags from @scribbler

on Swamp Hags from @Gracy

on Swamp Hags from @Lavender

on Swamp Hags from @Geezer

"The Truth As I See It" by @c lynn brooks

on A Restless Night from @c lynn brooks

on A Restless Night from @Geezer

"Prisoner In Disguise" by @c lynn brooks

on Sonnet 13 to forbidden Love from @c lynn brooks

"My Moon" by @Lavender

"Snowman" by @Lavender

"Perseverance" by @Lavender

"A Poem - A Villanelle" by @Lavender

"Unfiltered <---- (February contest entry)" by @Thalassa Brytaye

"The Tragic Tale" by @Lavender

January 2021 — 23 poems

on "Mutated Thoughts..." by @Geezer

Membership begins

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