Happy Halloween everyone!

This was written when I first came to neopoet. Being here has improved my writing beyond my wildest hopes. The secret is to accept that people are not out to destroy your poetry, but to improve it. Some will give slight critique, some in depth and others will be harsh, but all are trying to help you improve. Below is the original and the fainal version of my poem "The Wolf". I think everyone can agree with the improvement in the final version.

The Original version before critique.

"The Wolfe"

The pen on paper moving to and fro
Takes me sometimes where I would not go
And therein lies...
The Wolf

A growl, a nip, a shake of tail,
A howl, a cough, they take to trail.
Night dark shapes, their shadows fleet,
The wolf has come, hide 'neath the magic sheet!

Eyes burning, hot coals, the firelight,
Hell hot breath, a snap, a bite,
A lance of fire deep in the brain,
A desperate cry, a searing pain!

Confused images, moving to and fro,
Hot salty taste, blood on the snow.
Images burning in black and white
The wolf is come, beware the night!

Musty smell, a strangely familiar scent,
A howl, a bay, on trail they're bent!
Dim memories, confused images, something's wrong!
Ah.... the pull of the moon, it's so strong!

A dim longing, a past, pain resides,
The pack calls, push it aside.
The stalk, the kill, the fatal bite,
The wolf is come, tremble with fright!

The frenzied bloodlust, the prey, the fight,
Fleeting shadows, the moon, the night.
The fevered brow, the sweat, a sound,
Torn clothing, confusion, blood-soaked ground!

The longing, the lust, the stealthy creep,
Dim awareness, remembered pain, blessed sleep!
The terror, the leaping, running unbound!
The wolf is come, beware the pentagram!

This is the final version after many suggestions and critique by members here.

The Wolf
The pen on paper moving to and fro
Takes me sometimes where I would not go
A pentagram on my palm aglow
And therein lies...
The Wolf

A growl, a nip, a flick of tail,
A howl, a bark, he takes to trail.
Night dark shape, flashing feet,
The wolf has come, hide 'neath the sheet!

Eyes like burning coals at night,
Hell hot breath, a snap, a bite,
A lance of fire deep in the brain,
A desperate cry, searing pain!

Confused shapes move to and fro,
Hot salty taste, bloody snow.
Images burn in black and white
The wolf has come, beware the night!

Sharp tang, a familiar scent,
A howl, a bay, on trail he's bent!
Dim memories, confusion, something's wrong!
The pull of the moon, it's so strong!

Dim longing where pain resides,
The pack calls, push it aside.
The stalk, the kill, the fatal bite,
The wolf has come, tremble with fright!

Frenzied blood-lust, the prey, the fight,
Fleeting shadows, the moon, the night.
Fevered brow, dank sweat, a sound,
Torn clothing, blood-soaked ground!

The longing, the lust, the stealthy creep,
Dim awareness, pain, bless-ed sleep!
The terror, the leaping, running unbound!
The wolf has come, beware the pentagram!