Gregory Richard Barden Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

* This lighthouse is 25 minutes from my home, and I used to go there regularly to watch the sunrise and do my prep school homework, (and many other times) ... there was a place on the rocks that was as comfortable as a chez lounge. *

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au revoir, au phare -

again …

here I am -
a glum ghost
a somber shadow
I have come to dream

to pledge duty, your gleam
to venerate your foreday liturgy
ah, and mend the mist - the magical mist
another mercurial morn creature such as we

ever cautiously coy in its dark, shifting purpose
with foggy fingers it creeps shore-ward
tickling the rocks and rills with vexing facility
its dew-dripping appendages grasp the bluff

and cloak it in a brume shawl
sea's briny breath
braided to a blanket
covering all in a supernal spell

as if we haunt some lofty realm
paused between stars and steeples
to dance for the dawn's enchantment
but I am here for longing's sake

to entomb my pallid pining
priceless little maudlin chunks of my life
that I must forever let loose
whimsical moments spent here, made precious by another

a sweet syrup called "her" that drips from my being
and dribbles its way to my visceralities
where now it turns rancid with nostalgia
poisoning my spirit 

you ...

with your winking perpetuity
shall be the last witness to my remorse
you - my lonely, reticent, stolid beacon
shall be the final testament

to every tear let in her stead
to every hapless heartache rent for her
to every soul-wrenching dream torn from the night
and to every last hush of her name on the wind

I throw it all down now
to crash on these jagged cliffs with the morning wake
to end where it was first entrusted
with the shutter of your winking eye

and the first misty beams ... of a new day.






~ 1st Place ~  in the "Lighthouse" Poetry Contest, Eve Roper, Judge & Sponsor.

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Gershon Wolf December 26, 2018 at 8:06 PM And I 'pledge duty' to honor 'your gleam,' that which radiates from your incandescent relationship with the lighthouse. You have made the ineffable 'effable.' Wondrous winner, Gregory! Best always, Gershon Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:09 PM And you have once again humbled me with your kind words, Gershon, all of which I am very thankful for, along with your friendship. Blessings, Sir! :o)

Edward Ibeh December 26, 2018 at 1:32 PM Sublime, just sublime, Greg!:-) Congrats on your top win! Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:08 PM That's very kind of you, Edward, and I thank you so much! :o)

Wren Rushing December 26, 2018 at 12:36 PM Congratulations on your win Greg! Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:08 PM Thank you very much, Wren - blessings! :o)

Heidi Sands December 26, 2018 at 12:07 PM Congratulations for your top win with this excellent poem :) Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:08 PM That's very kind of you, Heidi, thank you so much!! :o) <3

John Hamilton December 26, 2018 at 10:58 AM Wow Greg you've outdone even yourself with this write!!!Too many unique phrases to mention well ok one "venerate your foreday liturgy" ok one more"dew-dripping appendages, I don't think those word combinations have ever been written before, congrats on another brilliant win! Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:07 PM You are so very kind, John, and I greatly appreciate every word! Blessings and thanks, my friend! :o) <3

Connie Marcum Wong December 25, 2018 at 11:49 PM This is superb Greg! It is very deserving of First Place. A truly emotional impactful poem that empathy has me weeping. Congratulations on your win! Merry Christmas! : ) xxoo Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:04 PM Many kind thanks to you, Connie, I so greatly appreciate it! Blessings! :o) <3

Eve Roper December 25, 2018 at 11:02 PM Greg, a wonderful Free Verse you have written with great imagery and emotion I could feel. I enjoyed reading and I'm glad to congratulate on your first-place win. Wishing a very Merry Christmas to one and all. Hugs Eve ~`* Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2019 at 11:03 PM Thank you SO very much, Eve, it means a great deal to me - I could swear I had already thanked you, but it seems I was mistaken, (or perhaps another PS "glitch, lol). Blessings, Dear Poet!

Aqua Marine December 19, 2018 at 1:31 AM I've read this twice, and faving it to read again, Greg. Your natural way of writing, and use of unusual words, has a lilting flow .... ( "brume shawl"had me reaching for the dictionary- yay!) I get the comment about longer, heavier reads- this one was worth it- as you said , only takes a minute or two! Enlightening the write from your personals experience, is much appreciated! Best for the contest! Gregory Richard Barden December 22, 2018 at 6:22 PM Oh, this is such a wonderful comment, Aqua - I wish I had seen it earlier, (things are so crazy right now) ... you do me far too much honor, but I am so thankful that you found this one so worthy of your kind comments! Blessings and thanks to you for your words - I pray you and yours have a wonderful holiday, my friend! :-)

Carolyn Devonshire December 18, 2018 at 1:24 PM Your "pallid pining(s)" evoke memorable images of dawn's "foggy fingers" creeping toward shore and you seem to identify with the personified lighthouse as you "throw down" your heartaches, allowing them to crash among the rocks. Your stunning imagery found me reading this poem again and again, absorbing the powerful emotions and liking it more each time. Outstanding writing, Gregory, and I would expect no less. Winning wishes for you, Carolyn Gregory Richard Barden December 18, 2018 at 2:56 PM Oh, thank you so very kindly, Carolyn - I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on this one, as it is special to me. Most people click on these "longer" poems, and don't bother to read them unless they're shorter than three stanzas, (even though a poem this length takes no more than a minute to read, if that), so I am very grateful for any comments. Blessings to you, Dear Poet! :-) <3