Poems with Teeth

Erasure poems from Bram Stoker's DRACULA (Dover Bookshelf edition) for The Poeming, April 2025.

[jessmeetsbram]

Bluebird Heart: Day Seventeen of The Poeming

I left

just before dawn

uneasy, violent

then, quiet

moonrise to sunrise

came and went

thought(s) mad

I escape

with help

a chance unexpected

bird cage open,

(I) fly

one last time

another adventure wait(s)

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 130, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

Visitation: Day Sixteen of The Poeming

It is well that you, darling,

armed with cheerful heart,

first visited as a ghost,

voice singing sweet as air received.

You quickly seared a piece of you in place;

your sacred name quite bright

and dear to remember.

Myself, overwhelmed with beautiful agony.

Only for you to return with the sun

to chamber(s) of memory.

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 355, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

AWAKENING: Day Fifteen of The Poeming

flowing shadows breathing in silent place(s)

praying angel(s) looking for softness

only...

beauty seized their hearts with solemn violence

love hurled life and death into their tired blood

shortly...

closed eyes opened in a moment by sharp truth

parted hands realized the strength of their solemn oath

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 192-193, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

SURRENDER: Day Fourteen of The Poeming

Live in the mystery;        make self die

Be buried, grave sealed

Cut

     and

          reap

               and

                    cut

Again

Come broken     and rise     as before

Nature's possibilities teach a lesson,

                                  tell an object(ive) of time

With knowledge...         go mad

Follow idea(s) through the mist...

JUMP

     without knowing...     believe

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 228-229, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

JOY: Day Thirteen of The Poeming

How good to me are love, wonder.

These flowers positively comfort.

Oh, blessed night brings sweet dreams!

But I play before delight and time.

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 159, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

Don't think this one needs explanation.

WOMEN ARE TOO EMOTIONAL: Day Twelve of The Poeming

I suppose...

This upset, sort of shock,

a brain fever recalled.

Something terrible to overwhelm.

Pity the horror experienced.

Fearful mystery brooding in a tumult.

I suppose...

hysterical, again

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 220, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

 I wrote this the other day thinking of Kilmar and all the others we've failed, and now it's even worse.

Mother of Exiles: Day Eleven of The Poeming

Welcome! Enter freely.

Our own statue gesture(s) welcome, fixed in stone

Over the threshold, hands grasp.

Strength lessened by cold.Come! Freely, safely.Happiness and strength bid you welcome!Rest, sir.Your comfort insisted on.An open door to a table spread.Hearth replenished, a 

sign light and warm. But lately, a hollow roar finds you.The other.All you wish(ed) seem(s) dissipated, famished.With a hasty wave of hand-- not with charming smile.The host's desire, by fire and smoke.A mark of massive cruel(ty).Sharp teeth cut.Grim smile(s) show more than yet done.From down below, t

he howling.

Many wolves, eyes gleam(ing).

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 18-21, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

Catching up...

Wolf at the Door: Day Ten of The Poeming

Poor child...

A wicked wolf left you

     shivering

     diminished

     paralyzed

The idea had your head

Full of unutterable thoughtsBut,     all alongTrouble was no animalBurst open your cage,     prodigal sonWicked wolves are only people,     after allA moving masquerade,     red and tenderCut by the broken glass     of personal walls

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 168, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

I am even further behind in posting but I've been writing, which is what's important! LOLI'll probably just post two a day this week so I can get back to real-time posting.

Shooting Stars: Day Nine of The Poeming

Phases of wonder, I guess.

Far from others, puzzled subject(s)

agreed to such moments.

Strange, I suppose.

The evening shadows-- all at once--

promise something.

Words made with a spiritual intensity.

Like stars wishing supreme happiness

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 389-390, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

Catching up on posting.

This is a straight blackout poem.

Unknown: Day Eight of The Poeming

a quarter before low dark gleams,

clouds cross the sky

we somehow come close;

proximity a place memory unlocked

hesitation, reason closed the door

for who believe(s) silent words(s)?

such a thing to doubt sacred purpose

then...

something through the trees

just in time,

no exodus

wait: unseen and heard,

stranger yet to be

in the night air,

sweet like gladness

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 247-251, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

Had a lot going on this week so I'm behind posting what I've written for The Poeming. I'll get caught up over the next couple days.

This is a straight blackout poem.

Instructions from the Comment Section: Day Seven of The Poeming

Hysterical... again

Barren, lonely

Make happy, good women

Live and make children

Be of use

You suffer in study and experience

Do ALL* for him

Make him (a) strong man

Overwrought and anxious is not to his good

For his sake, smile

You shall not speak,

     think,

          ask

Question not,

      you weak, mad dear

*Emphasis in the original text

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 220-221, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

I was trying to write this poem on Day 5, but it wasn't ready to come out quite yet. I was trying to force a black-out poem when it wanted to be a remix.

GRACE: Day Six of The Poeming

such a thing,

the sacred honour to come here

with good purpose

to hold love for empty coffin(s)

but still,

broken masses profess

ghastly dishonour

as they recoil from grace

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 248-251, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

I was trying to write the poem that would become Day 6's from these pages, but it wasn't ready to come out quite yet. This did instead: another strict black-out erasure.

UNDER THE MOON: Day Five of The Poeming

a mystery beyond sacred

two--

     with purpose--

sealed up, empty,

wait amongst the graves,

bear with the strange

unseen, unheard

Oh!

but the night air, sweet

moonlight crossing like gladness

beyond the mystery,

the definite presence

of the sacred impossible

hidden heart(s),

the embodiment of

tree, grass, wave

silence aching,

then...

moonlight showed the dream

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 248-251, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

Bram Stoker set up the dominoes for me to knock down today. This one's a black-out poem in order of the words in the text instead of a remix.

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING: Day Four of The Poeming

promised penalties

mingled with feeble reason

the state reduced

by reprehensible labours

public entertainment

quite the sovereign madman

as correspondent

King Orange report(s)

"Believe me, faithfully"

By Jess Capelle

Erasure of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 187-188, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

LOVE LETTER: Day Three of The Poeming

hope, be not

a wish     

a chance moment,

a private mystery

overcome the net

of horrible doubt,

of terrible gloom

leave a door

in this unnatural chamber

then rest in safe dreams

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 40, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

THE MESSENGER: Day Two of The Poeming

a cormorant on the wind

never forgets a wish

between a dear friend and the night

perhaps all oceans privileged to know

these happy pledges

trust only them to tell

sweet promises to the sun

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, p. 128, Dover Bookshelf Edition

[jessmeetsbram]

HOPE: Day One of The Poeming

the coming sound stole rays of moonlight

clusters of dust whirled in consolation,

aerial grains floating away in the terrible night

a ruthless sound

winding through whole towns

half villainy, half comfortable wickedness

but then, something new

something nebulous began in quaint villages

far-away, muffled

coming carefully

it dared to emerge in the terrible night

a calm rage gathered at the right time,

soothing sense

becoming a veritable work of protection

prisoners emerged

burning brighter

as evil ran

By Jess Capelle

Erasure remix of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, pp. 53-55, Dover Bookshelf Edition