I chose the Lauren Daigle song, not for its religious implications, but because I wanted music that gives HOPE, and most of this song does exactly that.

Good stuff. Empowering with its message to the masses that can take the time and embrace it.

This would be my favorite sonnet I read from you so far. So powerful, so moving, and unfortunately true… Though, we women struggle more around the world, but I couldn’t help but see this as the test any human would have. I have to admit that I’m one of those who could/can not lose Faith no matter how much I’ve went/go through, I have to admit too, that it’s NOT easy when everything screams the otherwise. no one can live without having a certain belief in anything, and I’m not only speaking religiously here. You put all your emotions here, from anger to despair to empathy and compassion to HOPE… Great poem my friend, Thank You 💕

When I think about this oppression, and see how real it is, it becomes too hurtful, too much to take. Two issues that have fueled my revolutionary desires and dreams for a different and better world are the oppression of Black people and the oppression of half of humanity that are female. Your short comment is deeply felt, thank you.

Thank you Light. I took and appreciated very much the depth of what you have said. I think everyone has a “faith” and belief, even if it is just a negative self centered one. For me the question is how do we use it? Do we use it to change the ugliness around us? Or do we use it to hide us from this ugliness? I write poetry that is aesthetic and yet make the reader feel, feel alive, feel hope, feel that we humans can affect everything around us and this can spread far beyond the space we occupy at any given time. Oscar Wilde once said, “We all are living in the gutter; but some of us are looking at the stars.” I think he should have added, “And those of us who can see the stars find the ways to allow others to see the stars as well.”

I am happy you found this poem and left me this beautiful comment.

Nice set up. Can’t wait to read the rest

Powerfully penned, Benjamin. I concur with Fia, excellent write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

thunder, now passed,
praising rain on a lean-to…
this high & sky
full of mist & wist,

satisfied shine, rich
with daggered eyes in flight…
earth & alighted, poor
with cosmic delusion…

cockatrice glare
through fog & moon.

‘thunder, now passed,
praising rain on a lean-to…
this high & sky
full of mist & wist,

satisfied shine, rich
with daggered eyes in flight…
earth & alighted, poor
with cosmic delusion…

cockatrice glare
through fog & moon.’

Superbly but subtly visual, pensive yet explicit? Why not, sez I.

This is so tender
Favorite part is how you ended it

“with not one hint

of a beginning, no signs of a

middle nor trace of an imminent end even”

“These words may have no beginning”… they have no end either… Enchanting, captivating, breathtaking… passionate as only how passion should be. this is a masterpiece of poetry and love, though the reader smiles as they read, yet it pulls a tender tear from the heart, a tear of love. Mr. Ken would be joyous reading this. beyond gorgeous….

Beautiful work.

Beautifully penned, Neville. A very delicate write my friend. Excellent work.. Appreciate you.

Damian

After reading the comments above, what could I possibly say? Hopefully, and it’s not just my wishful thinking it is the end part that is “real”. But that middle should be “real” as well. Damn Neville, your poem makes the reader (me) hope it is all “real” (and yes, even the fantasy parts!!) The sum of all these parts is: I loved reading your poem, Neville!!!!!!!!!

Curt

I remember this song well. Tremendous work. You nailed it.

She was “tasty”…er… perhaps I should have kept that to myself. ;0) In the end, though, she was the one who consumed me. Isn’t this the way all ‘obsessions’ end?!!

Mary, searching for and posting this older poem, was worth getting the comment you left. I’m glad you “loved everything about it.”

This is a beautiful portrayal of Native American culture. I love the part where she bestowed wisdom to him.

Most people don’t know the ugly history of the US. They do not know of the ‘Trail of Tears’ and the forced march suffered by Native American peoples. And some think it was only the Cherokee on this ‘trail’. It included the Cree, Seminole, and Miccosukee, and other Tribes. Many thousands died along the way. This horror is part of what they want to erase from the history books.

My ancestors (a long ago Grandmother on my father’s side), were slaughtered by the Dutch. She was Lenape.

Thank you Mary, for sharing, it means a lot to me.

I love Native America, Native America tales, wisdom, music and wolves, their howls and cries. and like expected of their music, the one you’ve shared holds sadness within its layers. I amdire your poem for the simplicity yet the depth it has, normally longer poems don’t keep me along the reading, but here it’s different, I read it all with no pressure, it feels like home, the Native America home… the burnt sage caught me because it’s in my culture too.
the sheer wisdom and magnificence of the final two verses are for real something else. True loves comes when You find your own whole self, when You win your spiritual test and yes finds the home in You (how I love this phrase!) You don’t need someone to complete You, You want someone to share it with You. yet, even that the broken hearted wolf knows this truth, he also knows that sometimes You must feel it all to be able to let it go or pass to the new stage. a truly brilliant piece my friend ✨