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A Photo, Faded

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Close ... So close, you were skin to my flesh, Marrow to my bones ... Suffusing my being and breath As the elements that course through my veins. Once, you whispered me ... tender, That the only time you adored your own reflection Was when you saw it ... in my eyes, For then ... then, you were close enough ... To me. With me. For me. We spoke often of our intimacy ... So near, so deep, so much as ONE, That we almost felt alone ... An individual spirit, solitary ... When we met at THAT place, merged in passion ... A sensual singularity, exquisite, Close as souls can or could or will ever be ... Colors blended ... threads woven, enmeshed ... A delicate tapestry of visceral emotion and desire. Now ... I see your picture ... there ... Your life and circumstance, (and love), as it is now ... And your eyes - those amazing eyes - hold not a glint of what was ... Thirty-five years, and you have purged me, complete. I stare as deeply as I know, and see - in horrid grief and longing ... A stranger. ~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Free Verse: Winter Blues" Poetry Contest, Laura Loo, Judge & Sponsor. ~ Honorable Mention ~ in the "Brian's Choice E, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.

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Line Gauthier

Date: 5/5/2018 9:56:00 PM

Back with belated congrats on your fine win, Gregory. Well done.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/29/2018 11:42:00 PM

Thank you so much, Line! :-) <3

Curtis Moorman

Date: 1/14/2018 11:20:00 PM

Greg, you write such amazing poetry. I am so glad you are a member of Soup just so I have the pleasure of reading what you write. Congratulations on your win.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/15/2018 1:55:00 AM

That's very kind of you, Curtis, thank you so much for the kind words, my friend! :-)

Susan Ashley

Date: 1/13/2018 4:49:00 PM

Such passionate sadness Gregory. Your love and pain is beautifully and poignantly expressed. Congratulations on your wonderful win.. ~Susan

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/13/2018 5:11:00 PM

That's very kind of you, Susan, thank you very much ... I'm so pleased you enjoyed it - blessings, my friend! :-)

Lu Loo

Date: 1/13/2018 4:13:00 AM

full of depth and sadness, great poem, thank you and congrats :)-luloo

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/13/2018 4:18:00 AM

Thank you very much, Laura - I appreciate the placement.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 11/15/2017 8:45:00 AM

Can true love really die? I wonder...Greg, your heartfelt write is touching:) fantabulous:)

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/16/2017 6:54:00 PM

It depends on the person, I think, but even those who say otherwise can never REALLY purge it completely ... it's always a part of the soul, as is everyone and everything we ever meet or do, I believe. Thank you - I'm very pleased you enjoyed it!

Sara Kendrick

Date: 11/15/2017 8:21:00 AM

Very moving work filled with emotion..I enjoyed reading your work..Reads like a good contender to me..Thanks for the visits to my page..Sara

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/16/2017 6:52:00 PM

Thank you so much, Sara, I'm very pleased you enjoyed it ... it didn't even place in the contest, but some very good poets, yourself included, felt it worthy, and that means a lot to me. Blessings! :-)

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 11/12/2017 9:17:00 PM

This piece is truly exquisite Greg! The intensity of passion is expressed as beautifully as any master poet! I love this! This is going into my Faves! : )

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/14/2017 2:22:00 AM

You humble me with your comments, Connie, because you are such an amazing poet yourself, and your approval means a great deal to me ... blessings and sincere thanks, my friend - you made me smile today! :-) <3

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/12/2017 8:11:00 PM

OMG another WOW, and this time, also a FAVE!!!! I gotta see if I ever put you on my list of fave poets too. I get behind doing that and definitely you need to be on it!!!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/14/2017 2:20:00 AM

That's very sweet of you, Andrea, and I'm honored that you would think enough of my writing to put me on your list ... you are certainly on mine, Friend, and were one of the first! Blessings and thanks, too! :-) <3

John Hamilton

Date: 11/12/2017 7:17:00 PM

This is an emotional roller coaster Greg! So full of life and love and passion and then the ending. Top shelf writing, but you already know that, just stating the obvious!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/14/2017 2:19:00 AM

Blessings to you, Buddy, I thank you very much ... your comments are always a bright spot in my day, Friend! :-)

Jean Murray

Date: 11/12/2017 4:29:00 PM

When I read you Greg, you pull me in in a way I'm not used to. You write with such genuine feeling, I think that has to be your secret.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/14/2017 2:17:00 AM

You're very sweet, Jean, and I so appreciate that - I think we ALL write with genuine feeling, but we all do that in slightly different ways, and there are some people who just touch our souls in special ways, because they use words and phrasings that we relate to more deeply, or perhaps strike a chord in a place where others may not. Blessings to you, Friend! :-) <3

Line Gauthier

Date: 11/12/2017 8:32:00 AM

Very touching... so sad how people drift away... Line xx

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/14/2017 2:14:00 AM

That is so true, Line, and so very sad ... I met her, (my first soul-mate) when we were very young, and I have never been that close to another soul, yet we have not spoken in 35 years, and we did NOT part on bad terms, either, just slowly went in other directions. Thank you so much, and blessings, Friend. <3

Russell Sivey

Date: 11/12/2017 6:31:00 AM

So sad...your write has such passion within it, and it throws a curve at the end! I felt so good about life when I read your poem, then the ending came crashing and burning...the pain surfaces and kills the pores of my existence by your words...but the beginning through to the second to last stanza was so soft and loving, a grandiose portrayal of love and dedication to one one another that is so very lost within the last stanza...a crushing blow to your heart! Great Work my friend!!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/14/2017 2:11:00 AM

Thank you very much, Russell, my friend, I greatly appreciate it ... this one goes very deep. Blessings, Buddy! :-)