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Open Poetry #11
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John R
Member
since 2000-12-14
Posts 141
Toledo OH

0 posted 2000-12-17 04:26 PM


Lethe

He walked the shores of Lethe, shadow-less, since the rains
of April washed away all hope.  Water lapped the rocks
of despair, like ripples of echoes mocking the past.  
"O Love, why have you forsaken me?" He cried, as he
bent to the river to drink.  "Let death be my release from pain,
if love is the curse, bringing to my ears the whisper
of her voice, as only an echo of the past."
"Scatter to the four winds my memories,
but leave me one, one memory of her face."  

Tears splashed insignificantly against the
sands of the time-washed shore, only to be erased  
by the on-coming waves of the River of Sorrow's Release.  
"I hear the voice of my sin, now I suffer the price
of my soul, for I could not save myself, from myself," he wept.

Lips touched soothing waters, waves of past memories
coursed through his mind.  A flash......a  rose
clutched in hand, lips touching gently the lips of the rose,  
(a beauty reminding him of her) but his eyes saw blood
drip from its silver thorns.

Time the devourer of all things  remembered till death.....
his enemy, for he will never forget her eyes.
Eyes, that brought sunrise to the shadow of longing.
A yearning undefined, a dream afraid of waking,
in a nightmare's reality.  He could not drink.

Now in this place, where Time's cruel hand no longer
touches the future. He looks to a place where sky meets earth,
searching the place, where light and darkness meet,
longing to say words, that could never express the feelings he
has for her.....hoping some how, she will hear his words.

"Know that you are the love God put here to shine on me.  
I dwelled in your light, your love, your beauty.  
I walked to the very edge of my existence to be close to you.
Look to the horizon and think of me and somewhere in
between our thoughts will meet.  Know that I will be there at this
place, where light and darkness meet, waiting for your light and in
the dawn of a new day, we will meet again, for out of the depths of
despair I will climb, if our dreams would but touch in flight for one
more moment.  God willing, I will take you hand-in-hand and
together our souls will fly through eternity.

For now, his battle rages within the nights;  Sleepless, his torment
ripples at his heart,  a heart scarred by Fates cruel hand.  A hand,
that wove his braid with a broken strand, over-lapped with a braid
stained with fear.  A fear, that this love could not fight.  

His life, a flash before his eyes final closing.  A brief, but lasting
love, found....but at the wrong time.  The beginning;  a moment,
a meeting, a joining of two souls on the journey through heart-break
and the sorrow, the pain of love denied, betrayed.  A trial of
unconditional love tested to its end, a tragic ending,
but.... maybe the beginning of a new day.





If a dream touches us,
it exists to us as anything
else that touches us.

© Copyright 2000 John Romstadt - All Rights Reserved
serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

1 posted 2000-12-17 04:31 PM


This just happens to be one of my favorite themes from mythology. (Methinks I've worn a path down to that river, too...)


"and the sorrow, the pain of love denied, betrayed.  A trial of
unconditional love tested to its end, a tragic ending,
but.... maybe the beginning of a new day."

We can only hope. And sometimes that is all that's left--grin...

Enjoyed the introspect, here, John. I look forward to more of this!


Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2000-12-17 04:32 PM


This is wonderful, John R, and I am adding you to my library...

every line had some meaning for me...I will come back to read this again and again, and hope to see much more from your pen...

thank you...


Karilea
If I whisper, will you listen?...
I would rather be silent and write, than speak loudly and be bound.
KRJ




Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

3 posted 2000-12-17 05:42 PM


.  "Let death be my release from pain,
if love is the curse, bringing to my ears the whisper
of her voice, as only an echo of the past."
"Scatter to the four winds my memories,
but leave me one, one memory of her face."  

Tears splashed insignificantly against the
sands of the time-washed shore, only to be erased  
by the on-coming waves of the River of Sorrow's Release.  
"I hear the voice of my sin, now I suffer the price
of my soul, for I could not save myself, from myself," he wept.

Lips touched soothing waters, waves of past memories
coursed through his mind.  A flash......a  rose
clutched in hand, lips touching gently the lips of the rose,  
(a beauty reminding him of her) but his eyes saw blood
drip from its silver thorns.

Time the devourer of all things  remembered till death.....
his enemy, for he will never forget her eyes.
Eyes, that brought sunrise to the shadow of longing.
A yearning undefined, a dream afraid of waking,
in a nightmare's reality.  He could not drink.

Now in this place, where Time's cruel hand no longer
touches the future. He looks to a place where sky meets earth,
searching the place, where light and darkness meet,
longing to say words, that could never express the feelings he
has for her.....hoping some how, she will hear his words.
==============
WOW!!!
this is amazing ...
very very well written and conceived ...
fantastic weaving of imagery and story
enchanting in it slightly haunted, tormented love story.
excellent ... indeed
take care
jm

Some people find subtlety in strangers
if you find anything~let me in
Your eyes~you see everything
my eyes~I see it all together now~and I know

John R
Member
since 2000-12-14
Posts 141
Toledo OH
4 posted 2000-12-17 09:29 PM


To Serenity Thank you for taking the time to read this was a bit long, but it is kind of a piece of a story.  The river Lethe is also a Favorite of mine. Sometimes I wonder if I would drink.  The underlying story here is true.  I can't forget her eyes.

To Sunshine thank you also for reading.  I write as I feel and I tie in what I know to relay those feelings in different ways.  

To Janet yes this story has its base in truth and they are just an expression of my feelings.  It is  long story.

If a dream touches us,
it exists to us as anything
else that touches us.

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