[basil ransome-davies]

I learned punctuation as a raggedy-ass white-trash grammar-school upstart in the 1950s, & subsequently taught it in an FE; ergo, I am shit-hot at it. But also, hey – a bit of a rebel. In fact I'm a great fan of the comma splice: I use it, enjoy it, revel in it, dismiss the snivelling complaints of the jerks who don't. The Oxford comma? Only in emergencies.

And don't get me started on the diacriticals!

[Peter Goulding]

Down the cold, dark steps I padded fearfully –
had I dreamt those soul-destroying howls?
But then, again, the pleading echoed tearfully
from somewhere deep within the castle’s bowels.

Though terrified, I crept involuntarily
down towards the source of this lament.
An owl shrieked! I halted momentarily,
then, shivering, continued my descent.

In my hand, the candle flickered hazily,
casting ghastly shadows on the wall.
Down and down again I tiptoed crazily,
unable to resist the anguished call.

The dungeon door! I gazed upon it woodenly,
then drew the bolt with deep metallic clang.
The candle snuffed. I stepped inside, then suddenly,
from deep within the fetid cell, there sprang...

[Jerome Betts]

Bravo, Peter! Really suspenseful!

[Graham King]

Peter, that's powerful stuff! Very entertaining.

It seems mean to nitpick, but I was given pause by 'hazily'. In what sense is that applicable to the N (who seems pretty focussed and determined )?

I wonder whether hazily and crazily could swap over between the candle and N to suit better (the candle though bright is flickering and might appear hazy through cobwebs or mist; it seems crazy of the N to keep advancing - as far as we are told, alone and unarmed - into potential mortal peril).
Just a suggestion!

[Peter Goulding]

Thanks Graham. It makes sense!