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Open Poetry #25
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The Portrait
| Open Poetry #25 |
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The Portrait |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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The Portrait In leafing through a book of old Its leather wrap embossed in gold My thumb exposed a mystic page Created in another age My startled eye had met with awe That centuries past a man could draw A striking image of myself That sat for centuries on a shelf The very twin of my facade Extraordinarily strange and odd Perplexed was I and in a spell That from an artists ink filled well My face was sketched so perfectly In photographic clarity The faultless strokes congruent with Each feature of my cheek and lip And in the shadows of my eyes An unborn tear about to rise For there is where the artist wrenched A haunting memory still entrenched The likeness stirred my heart to pound, Disturbed by its own rhythmic sound Someone like me who once survived Has wakened love that’s yet alive I begged to know the name of she Who had inspired his artistry To capture depth of love within Portrayed on paper, crisp and thin No name inscribed beneath her pain No mention of from where she came A tragic face engraved in time A replica of mirror’s mime Each stroke of black on aging sheet Defined a lonely heart replete With love that still consumed her thought And dwells beneath the smile wrought How can this be? How could the cloud Of secrecy in deepest shroud Be sketched within a portrait’s eyes That were the mask of my disguise? And now I see my sorrow’s hold Cast in the shadows of a mold And sentiments that still survive Within an etching yet alive This portrait of my life is strung In verse of sorrow sweetly sung And rendered into flowing phrase In intimate and knowing ways I see myself within a rhyme That has survived the course of time It is an image not of me But of the vastness of the sea Of loves that faded, somehow lost And live within a book embossed The figure bound in brown and gold Dwells in a poem so finely scrolled That on its page the space of years Has gathered stains of many tears Elizabeth Santos March 26, 2003 [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (03-26-2003 09:55 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
Brad Majors 
since 2001-04-03
Posts 2647Georgia |
Very well done imagery! |
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rosepetals25
since 2000-05-31
Posts 3076PA |
You always leave me speechless  I have nothing to say but... wow... and ... wow!Hugs, Tara "in my field of paper flowers |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fantastic...James |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
 Lady Santos... Pen the  sand we will keep them all... |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Brad, Thanks a bunch! Tara, "Wow" is a great word to say, THank you! James, Thank you, dear poet Sunshine, I am humbled Liz |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
LovelyLizzy~ Your words frame the most elegant imagery. I can see 'The Portrait'~ *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Dear Lady..Your imagery is beyond compare! Wonderful write...much enjoyed. ~Smiles & Hugs, Nancy~ ~Somewhere in my heart I'm always |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
This is a magnificent portrait! Thank you, I have a spare corner of canvas for this. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Marge, Thank you sweet poetess Nancy, I'm glad you enjoyed reading I enjoyed writing Midnitesun, what a lovely thing to say Thank you Lovin' hugs Liz |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
Oh Elizabeth! Another beauty from you. I just love to read your poetry. |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Elizabeth, this is beautiful but saddening, dearest friend, I know this feeling and still have my picture of Joanna but cry every time I see it as I can't have her and wondering why I still love her so much when she never wants to speak to me again! (wipes tears) I send many hugs your way and hope your portrait is always lined with white lace and sunlight, yay, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Elizabeth, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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vandana
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463USA |
enjoyed  |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
This has so many wonderful layers... and each one is a treasure. *S* |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
This is exceptionally beautiful, dear friend... Regards, Sudhir |
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morefiah Member
since 2003-03-26
Posts 150Spanish Town, Jamaica |
When I grow up, I want to be just like you... Exquisite. Nuff said. |
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NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
My dear Liz, how much I love your poetry cannot be written in this small space. This particular piece held my attention and I could see every detail that you described with your words. You are such a wiz at inspiring imagination and imagery. How I would love to be able to write as well as you. You are a wonder ... Hugs for peace, Marti |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
ELizabeth, I can't tell you how much I love this. A wonderful story, penned in your wonderful style. Sandra |
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