Listen
Listen, and I shall speak
Of lovers’ days, nights, weeks.
Bowing heads, in cradled hands
Fighting the fading, greying plans.
To lift themselves, above the game
Of everyday, of all the same.
Like a book reread, yet a page unturned
Like a match unlit, but feeling burned.
Forgetting how, to touch within
They kiss lips dry, an inch from skin.
They hear the words, but miss the shout
Of a lover lonely, and calling out.
They turn to sleep, they face the wall
Never seeing, the other at all.
Lying there, with open eyes
Holding a pillow, to quiet their cries.
They pull the blanket, under their chin
Protecting their hearts, and the love within.
From the cold of night, that steals the heat
And the lonesome look, of an ironed sheet.
No wrinkled twists, no scattered cloth
No candles lit, the flame turned off.
They close their eyes and call on dreams
To recall the love, from memories.
And to the other, in silent prayer
They hope tomorrow, be laying there.
For to wake alone, to listen and sigh
At a candle’s hiss, that final goodbye.
To what once was, the day starts cold
So slow to rise, the sun is old.
To lie in bed, to hear no call
Of a morning lover, of nothing at all.
To listen to nothing, but one less beating
From a lover’s heart, torn and splitting.
Gone is the day you could try again
Gone are the words, said within.
Gone is the door, never to open
Gone is the key, to let you in.
Gone is the sun and how it glistened
Gone is the moment, once envisioned.
Gone is the chance, you never took then
Gone, is love, and what should’ve been.
Gone is the lover, the partner, the friend
Gone is everything, except the end.
How it all falls, with a sun unrisen
How dark the day, you didn’t listen.
Goodbye is said silent, in the eyes
The candle flutters, then it dies.
And in your heart, what once was red
Turns to blue, then grey, then dead.
And I, the wind, that curls on by
To turn your wish into a sigh.
I’ll bring it back, to tease you when
You swear on love, to listen.
~~~
hello dearest Styxian this really hit home I have trouble listening and have let love slip away because I didn’t love myself enough to fully open up here is the pain of it…this is so very sad and longing but beautifully executed 💕
Thanks Crims. I’m not much into doing rhyme, but it’s a good practice for staying mentally sharp with creativity.
Love is a type of energy, and they say that energy never fades. It just gets resourced. It’s around us all. We just have to be receptive for it.
Yeah?
yes of course admittedly it’s something I stuggle with I liked the rhythm of this piece it added to it something I feel…we are on similar wavelengths, I feel tonight I hope this piece is fiction or past tense 💕
I’m a creative writer my dear. Just as some people write of horror yet it is purely fictional, I too write whatever is interesting me at the moment.
I just got back from seeing Del for a few days. Obviously life is good!
Evocative lines of syllabic longing. Just a relatable feeling
“Like a book reread, yet a page unturned
Like a match unlit, but feeling burned.”
&
“How it all falls, with a sun unrisen
How dark the day, you didn’t listen.”
I feel like these lines tie the theme together well.
Like Crim, I’m always trying to still the grinding in my brain and it’s a challenge for some of us…so many missed opportunities at genuine connection lost on being somewhat crazy lol. It seems that ‘longing’ has become a guilty pleasure for me lately haha. Yes, just shut up and listen to the wind….
Always great to see a DUP veteran poet posting something new…great choice of rhyme and slant rhyme….kinda takes me home again, if only momentarily…all those moments I didn’t listen, and I always appreciate a good use of anaphora.
Thank you!
And you made me look up the meaning of a word…anaphora. So I learned something today! Thank you! I’m always curious and anxious to learn.
I used to do rhymers frequently. But as I evolved as a writer, I got away from it. It isn’t so easy! LOL
I can’t be in here as much as I’d like, time isn’t always cooperative. Yet when I do, I try to make it worth the reader’s time. And likewise, I search for inspiring pieces to read. It’s a good trade. Thank you for the encouragement!
I swear to everything solid, I have been here. But you painted both the lonely who faded & went away & the left behind. That was an incredible image. Those left behind don’t always care though. Mine didn’t. But many do & this is a gentle reminder to listen & take nothing for granted…least of all love
Hello Willow!
I think we all have taken a few things for granted over our years. Perhaps especially a relationship. People tend to get too content or what-not. The “What could I have done better?” is an affliction that all too many have been cursed with a time or two. Or, their partner was the culprit. At any rate, I was wanting a solid voice to speak this out for me. Hopefully I succeeded!
I can relate Styx. Even your rhyming skills are polished. Great poem.
Rhyming so consistantly and carrying the “n” ending so much was a task! LOL I won’t do many rhyming ones. But I thank you for the props on my attempt. And although AI makes it much easier to do, it matters to me that I did it solely with my own ability, or lack of! 😉
thanks Tim. I truly appreciate it.
I truly appreciate the,artistry of your cadenced flow. A fitting requirement for the death of love. Well done, well done.
Whew! This one was work! LOL. And maintaining a sense of meter was obviously part of the task.
Thanks so much for that comment. I’m trying!
Beautifully penned, Mark. Love the imagery my friend, amazing rhymes, excellent write. My favorite lines:
“How it all falls, with a sun unrisen
How dark the day, you didn’t listen.”
Appreciate you.
Damian
I’d gone back and forth on it awhile, but I really feel that it is good enough as a stand alone, compared to most of my writes.
I have a handful of rhymers, but it isn’t my norm, I know.
I’m all about free verse nowadays, obviously!
Thank you Damian. And I appreciate you my friend.
I’m not adverse to rhyme as it can accentuate the emotions expressed. You work this well.
Hey, we gotta mix it up sometimes. Dark, light, free form, structured, etc. It’s how we stay sharp minded!
I will take any form of critique, too. It’s how I know what hits and what misses. Yeah?
Oh Lordy. How to comment on this!! I got teary eyed while reading. It hits home on a personal note as I’m sure you know.
It is a beautiful write. I feel like I can touch it, it’s so real. This is perfect. Just like you:)
But honey, you’re biased! LOL.
I rarely do rhymes. But, yeah, we gotta stay sharp right?
Smooch!
This poem aches with quiet truth–and is so beautifully written. The way love doesn’t end in an instant, but fades through silence and small distances. The repetition of “gone is” feels like the echo of a heart breaking, and the candle’s hiss at the end is such a perfect image of love’s final breath. Haunting, tender, and deeply human.
Thank you, Romaj. The “gone is” part was work! carrying that “n” end rhyme through that many sentences was a chore.
But at the time I was challenging myself to come up with a strong rhyming one. It’s not my norm, but hey, we have to be well rounded I think. Thank you again!