Creative Traditional:

[Terence]

The raven cast its baleful eye
across the congregation
and when he flew above their heads
they stopped their supplication.

“Cor blimey,” said the startled priest,
“‘tis Satan’s manifestation.
Bear no heed my brethren
I’ll scare off this abomination.”

With Book in hand and stalwart heart,
he started an incantation
which shook the raven to the core
and filled him with trepidation.

Our raven flew between the pews
at the words of his invocation
strewing candles like bowling pins -
fierce grew the conflagration.

But happily the church was saved -
a hot topic of conversation –
for it was due to prayers by the corps
of the Army of Salvation.

[JolieH]

Terence,

I like the visual here. I've never heard of Satan appearing as a Raven in a church. This is very cool. I like the language use - Cor Blimey. You must say that in England. Did you make this up, or is related to something I am unaware of.

[Terence]

Hi Jolie,

You're right, this was a fun piece I wanted to call 'The Raven' but Poe beat me to that title. As someone else has pointed out, perhaps I should have called it 'Candlemass'. The 'en-core' was also an essential part.
'Cor Blimey' is an English euphemism for the oath 'God blind me'. Probably not heard much these days.

Thanks for your interest, Terence

[lasher]

Hey now Terence,

Yeah, I liked this.. One could almost sing this - 'tis lyrical indeed...
Good flow, good topic, good wording - good, good, good........
Great job T...

[MsJacquiiC]

---- My Mama actually volunteers for the Salvation Army (((literally))) She actually went to the Salvation Army Church for a good period of time.... The Church was closed down.

Hey TERENCE - I think your poem is a lovely poem which speaks of perservering throughout the tribulation brought on by DEMONS meaning noone any good except for themselves (and not even themselves because the evil is so thick, blantantly so that tribulation never even enters the mind of such horrid and blatant and thick evil....)

I applaud you for this poem as the evil of ugh battles to come against my very own mind... Thing is - I understand the very principle of persevering - I actually live in a neighborhood so fondly called "The Valley" ---- At anyrate - I liked the unforced rhyme scheme and rhythm of your poem.

Very nice share = Thanx

Jacquii.

[Terence]

You're so right, MsJ, there is a lot of malevolence in the world today - mostly religious and political (what's new?) - and Goodness will come through in the end. My poem alludes to recent events in San Francisco, but applies universally.

Thank you for your voice.

[Aumakua]

Good versus evil!!!! Awesome! Though i never really thought the Raven was evil... i like it o.o'' But i also really liked this poem too ^_^ Something about it caught me... i don't know what though O_o

[BekiLynn]

fresh rhymes and clever twist at the end