A Musing

She said, if I correctly recall,                  
That, for her, a sustaining love is an 
Absolute prerequisite for what 
Would be a total commitment of the 
Coupling bodies...and all that 
Constitutes the essential parts of the 
Eternal Soul;                                     
And I not so assuredly competent
In this - the practice of such a higher 
Art!                                              
Adding, some little time later, that
Being so chained, in what she described
As an unfortunate consequence of a
Most regrettable thrall,                            
To a domineering Harlequin who,
When mindlessly exercising the upper
Whip hand, had neither modest restraint 
Or any amount of unimpassioned 
Self-control,                                     
Was, in fact, just a flagrant excuse 
For a base lust; 
Of course this was not to be confused
With the laudable and gallant actions
Conceived within the inner workings
Of a steadfast and more openly honest 
Heart.                                            


And was I convinced that I was indeed
Sincere in all my avowed pledges?
And did I truly understand that all her 
Troubled life she had tirelessly 
Searched for one such as I purported
To, somehow, seemingly be?
How I instantly can bring to mind
Those obscure and doubting mutterings...
Still carrying upon an ill wind I
Should not wonder;
I think of them like the songs of the
Naiads: what woefully remaining
Sounding endlessly above the glassy 
Tinkling of a mystical lakeside's 
Stiffened and shuffling Sedges; 
You a modern-day Danae, infant Perseus
Clutched to your swollen breast, your
Little box, in all its abject 
Loneliness, now set adrift upon some
Desolate and open sea.


What turned out, in the end, to be a 
Pointless charade. Perhaps; but that
Which, despite shortening periods, whilst 
Enduring felt almost timeless.
Then of course this shared guilt...
That will, shamefully I fear, 
Forever bind us.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Chiri Avatar
October 22, 2019 at 12:35 PM
I had to read the comments to truly know what this was all about but I'm sure if my old comments were still here I would have had it down perfect because I remember we discussed this one and you explained it to me perfectly!;) as always kind sir! Kisses!;)
One Avatar
February 2, 2018 at 3:35 PM
People will have different ourlooks for this... women are different to men, yet some women give themselves when its not love... I am not like many men, for me there has to be a connection... great poem John..
Fleming Avatar
February 5, 2018 at 4:35 AM
Thanks, Silent One. I could not agree more with your comments. However this poem is a lot more than what it first just appears to be on the surface...it has powerful undercurrents ripping through its unseen depth; a highly complex poem interwoven throughout...it would be difficult for most people to fully analyse and thus understand it. My very best regards, Silent One. :) john
Daniel Avatar
January 27, 2018 at 7:15 AM
Very deep, John, flows like a river into the sea...
Fleming Avatar
January 29, 2018 at 2:45 AM
Hello, Jo. How very nice to see you visiting again -- as always you are warmly welcomed! Thank you for the lovely comment...it is most kind of you. My very best regards, Jo. :) john
Cresswell Avatar
January 23, 2018 at 2:06 PM
John just to let you know I read this piece and there are many layers. Must think then read again.
Fleming Avatar
January 23, 2018 at 6:13 PM
Glad to see you back, Patricia...you have been sorely missed. Hope everything is well with you? You are right when you make the comment that there are "many layers" to this poem; you could not, in fact, be more correct! Glad it provided some momentary thought and provoked some small interest in somebody! My very warmest regards as ever, Patricia. Your affectionate friend. :) john
Tripp Avatar
January 22, 2018 at 7:03 PM
Do I read this correctly? Is it the timeless waltz of a woman's "I want commitment" to the endless Curly shuffle of a man's "I just want sex"? Tell me if I'm wrong. Lol. I love your thoughts, John and your deep and eloquent way of revealing them to the reader. Priceless.
Fleming Avatar
January 23, 2018 at 4:48 AM
You are the second person to get it "half-right", Rhoda; it is, however, far deeper than just that. I suggest you take a look at Demetrios's comments further down the page...put together with yours you may well glean a little more from the poem. My very warmest regards, Rhoda. :) john
Lovejoy-Burton Avatar
January 19, 2018 at 7:12 PM
Is this Austen's, Mr Darcy speaking? Or Lord Byron? The storyteller's words and their fate, both beautiful and sad. Danae never to see the light again, locked in a subterranean cave. Maybe it's Zeus speaking, the king of the gods, who desired her, came to her in the form of golden rain which streamed in through the roof of her unlit chamber and down into her womb, their child Perseus was born. Perhaps Polydectes speaks. A beautiful mystery of a poem. One must read it again to find a key. Stevie Nicks, "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You" comes to mind.
Fleming Avatar
January 21, 2018 at 2:41 AM
What a beautiful collection of comments - wonderful in content!! Thank you so very much, Leanne...I am, of course, most grateful for all of this. Allow me to say that it is indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance - nice to meet you! My very best regards. :) john
Teagan Avatar
January 19, 2018 at 12:17 AM
My goodness! This is amazing, you have a way with words, that's for sure!
Fleming Avatar
January 20, 2018 at 5:33 AM
Thank you, Becca. You are as welcome here as anybody; as always you are both kind and generous in your charming remarks...I do appreciate it very much. I will call round to your little corner in the very near future and check out some more of your lovely poetry. My very warmest regards, Becca! Your friend. :) john
Deschler Avatar
January 18, 2018 at 8:51 PM
Yes indeed, we remain bound to all those we meet in this life, for better or for worse... This is truly great writing, my friend. Very eloquent and elegant in it's flow. Well done, John :)
Fleming Avatar
January 20, 2018 at 5:27 AM
Hi, Kelly. So nice to see you again...it has been quite a while. I hope you are happy and your life is going in the right direction; you have been very much missed here at this little corner of the "Soup". Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment...you will always be most welcome here at any time. My very warmest regards, Kelly -- and my very best wishes! Your friend. :) john P.s I will call in again very soon and review some more of your excellent poetry. :)
Downing  Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 9:33 PM
Amazing, amazing... I wish I can write like this :)
Fleming Avatar
January 16, 2018 at 7:38 AM
What a truly lovely comment to make about someones writing, Akkina - Thank you!! And allow me to thank you for all the generous support you have shown over the last several years...it is very kind of you. My very warmest regards as ever, Akkina. :) john
Trifiatis Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 7:19 AM
A lesson that the... unenlightened should absorb in order to know what they could miss, excellently delivered dear, John!
Fleming Avatar
January 16, 2018 at 7:15 AM
Thank you, Demetrios -- your insightful remark is spot on! Always a pleasure to see you making an appearance on my page...you are always most welcome of course . My very warmest regards, Demetrios. :) john
May Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 7:12 AM
All the prerequisites of lust and love...Very nicely penned John
Fleming Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 2:55 PM
That is very kind of you to say so, Joseph -- hope your New Year is a really good one! Many thanks! My very best regards as always. :) john
losophy  Avatar
January 14, 2018 at 8:23 PM
Awesome! Happy New Year John!
Fleming Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 2:53 PM
Thank you, Phyllis, lovely to see you turning up...and let me assure you that you will always be most welcome here. My very best regards - cheers! :) john
Dietrich Avatar
January 14, 2018 at 7:23 PM
wow, the ending is a twist! That very last part. I just loved it! and of course, the entire poem has that unique classic flair to it that you have honed so well, John.
Fleming Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 2:49 PM
Hi, Andrea. Your comments are much appreciated - many thanks! Strangely enough I wrote this one extremely quickly (you mentioned to me a year or two ago that I should try writing poems over several hours not days)...not a very usual thing for me; I rather enjoyed the experience in all truth! My very warmest regards, Andrea. :) john
Pandit Avatar
January 14, 2018 at 5:43 PM
A thoughtful discourse of competing feelings...as you say it was timeless as long as it lasted..well written, john.
Fleming Avatar
January 15, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Thank you, Vijay...enjoyed reading your comments. My very warmest regards. :) john
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace