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Erasure of shadows

They hide in the shadows,
Prefer darkness to light.
As vampires they scurry,
Like thieves at night.

They search for a victim,
With senses ablaze.
Use tricks and distractions,
Misdirection of gaze.

With strength in alignment,
Witness statements all set.
Their power of priviledge,
Made secrets, safe bets.

These vampires got greedy,
In their wish to suck more.
Sacrifice was needed,
Hiding truth behind doors.

So they scapegoated a few,
Tossing them into the fire.
Hoping that people's ,
Curiosity might tire.

With rage redirected,
On a stage of power.
Overseen in safety,
From their ivory tower.

They'll launch us an image,
And swirl it around.
They'll add to it daily,
So jaws hit the ground.

Then they'll be another,
Sat waiting in the wings.
To drop on us surely,
Once storm's lost its sting.

A railroad of horror,
Drawn out the dark.
These carnivorous monsters,
And their stage show park.

But I ask you dear people,
To have courage, not fright.
In erasure of silence,
And in honour of light.

Let's expose these bloodsuckers,
To show them our might.
Proving darkness ain't scary,
When you turn on the light.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: Coventry, England, GBR

Favorite Poets: Michael Rosen , Rudyard Kipling , Pam Ayres , Benjamin Zephaniah

More from this author

Comments

neopoet

neopoet

2 months 1 week ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:

This poem explores themes of hidden corruption, manipulation, and the struggle to expose truth, using the metaphor of vampires to represent those who exploit power. The imagery of shadows and darkness effectively conveys secrecy and fear, while the call to "shine the light bright" offers a hopeful resolution.

Strengths: - The vampire metaphor is consistent and evocative, reinforcing the idea of predatory behavior and secrecy. - The poem builds a narrative arc, moving from concealment and exploitation to a call for courage and illumination. - The use of contrasts between darkness and light underscores the central theme effectively.

Areas for improvement: 1. **Spelling and Word Choice:** There are a few spelling errors that disrupt the flow and may distract readers. For example, "theives" should be "thieves," "priveledge" should be "privilege," and "sacrifes" should be "sacrifices." Careful proofreading would enhance clarity and professionalism.

2. **Rhythm and Meter:** The poem mostly follows a loose rhyme scheme, but the meter varies considerably, which can make the reading feel uneven. Consider revising lines to establish a more consistent rhythm, which will strengthen the poem’s musicality and impact.

3. **Line Clarity and Syntax:** Some lines could be clearer or more concise. For example, "To flip mirrors gaze" is somewhat ambiguous—does it mean to distort perception or to redirect attention? Clarifying such phrases can deepen the reader’s understanding.

4. **Imagery Expansion:** While the vampire metaphor is strong, some images feel conventional or overused ("ivory tower," "bloodsuckers"). Introducing more original or surprising imagery could make the poem more distinctive.

5. **Punctuation and Capitalization:** The poem uses capitalization at the beginning of each line but lacks punctuation, which can make it harder to parse sentences and pauses. Adding punctuation where appropriate would improve readability and emotional pacing.

Overall, the poem has a compelling message and metaphorical framework. Refining technical aspects and enhancing imagery will help the poem resonate more powerfully with readers.

Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact

Geezer

Geezer

2 months 1 week ago

I like this...

 A couple little stumbles, nothing major. When you have a line that is two or more syllables longer than the corresponding line, it breaks the rhythm.

The last line of your second stanza is three syllables longer than the line
"With senses ablaze". The corresponding line can sometimes deal with two, but three is very noticeable. Try [Misdirection of gaze], it achieves the same mission, to tell of changing the direction of attention, and is shorter by two syllables.

I Know that the word [devour] was chosen because of the implication of rapacious hunger, but maybe, you might use the word [suck] which still aligns
with the almost supernatural bent this takes in the mention of vampires.

Read it aloud, take a natural breath and read it, you will find the rough spots. 
I think that you have a great piece here, if you smooth out the rhythm, this could be a gem. Sometimes a little polish goes a long way to making something shine.

~ Geez.

Geezer

Geezer

2 months 1 week ago

Better...

I think you are getting the hang of it. I would still read this aloud to myself; I think you have made a big difference but can do better. Think of the rhythm like being a song, like music...  ~ Geez.

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Geezer

Geezer

2 months 1 week ago

Great!...

Nicely done, see how much better it flows? ~ Geez.

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