The Night We Buried Six: Poem
Shanelle Hicks
the night we buried six
in the belly
of the bleak night
we buried six
whispering secrets
to the dirt
an illicit ritual
for the forgotten
burying them
beneath the weight
of our collective guilt
the moon
spilled
its hushed
gentle glow
a voyeur
in the inky sky
watched as we dug
six shallow graves
the soil
an accomplice
in our conspiracy
compacted memories
hidden in earth's
harsh embrace
no hymns
no eulogies
for the nameless
our fingers
trembled with terror
metal shovels ringing
breaking
the silence
digging deeper
could bury
not just bodies
but truth's violence
that tore at our throats
the night
a heavy veil
draped over
our silent shame
witnessed
the unmarked graves
of the unclaimed
and we
like shadows
slinked away
from the crime scene
of our complacency
the dirt
heaved
a heavy sigh
and gulped
the evidence
each clump
sealing
the pact
of our cold complicity
while the stars
bore bright witness
to our covert ceremony—
on the night we buried six
Thriller-Inspired Free Verse Poem
Deliverables:
One original free verse poem (amount of lines TBD)
Thriller undertones are interwoven throughout
Poetic Elements:
Metaphors: comparisons to heighten tension
Alliteration: Strategic use to create rhythm and emphasize key moments
Juxtaposition: Contrasting ideas to build suspense
Similes: comparisons to enhance imagery
Structural Focus:
Varied line lengths and stanza breaks for dramatic pacing
Intentional use of white space to create pauses and tension
Enjambment
Rhythmic Elements:
Internal rhymes and assonance for subtle musicality
Varied meter to control pacing and suspense
Imagery:
Rich, sensory details to create an immersive atmosphere
Dark or unsettling visuals to maintain the thriller tone
Voice:
Consistent narrative voice throughout (e.g., mysterious, urgent, or foreboding)
Use of tone shifts to heighten emotional impact
Format:
Provided in a digital text format (e.g., Word document or PDF)
This poem is published in The Rising Phoenix Review
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Posted Jul 20, 2024
Write a free verse poem with the suspenseful elements of a thriller using poetic techniques that are both artistically compelling and psychologically gripping.
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