Notes About The Poem

Dreams Turned into Ashes

There are many painful pitfalls to happiness,
and no one is immune to misery's tragic tune.
We cry in the night like a wolf baying at the moon,
sullen, soulful songs of heartbreak and despair,
drifting upon air. Of those memories; beware.

My emotions may seem as dormant as a volcano~
Silent but molten, setting fire to my dreams. 
In ashes they lie, beyond the reach of my heart.
I try to write the plight of my life, but the light
turns dark, leaving me with tormented thoughts.
Expressing the bane of lost love in poetic refrain
is a rueful score of what once was but is no more.

I've written hundreds of poems of being smitten.
Bitten and wounded by Cupid's arrow, was I.
How I wish he'd missed his target, and yet,
never would I have known love's tender touch 
or the gentle caresses as he stroked my tresses,
nor the taste of his lips sealing love's vow.

My protective muse refuses to let me forget
the memories of romance, the good and bittersweet,
so, I continue to write although I stumble,
suffering while penning another grief-stricken Sonnet. 
Then more, still more, I write in lamenting encore, 
a sequence of denouements that will tear me apart 
each time I write and lay bare my wounded heart.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Kaufman Avatar
July 9, 2024 at 7:49 AM
Hi Lin, Enjoyed this soulful penning of yours. I don't understand the category as free verse though, as there are so many rhymes with in several lines? It's most impressive. Have a blessed day..
Lane Avatar
July 9, 2024 at 8:06 AM
Hi Nancy. You are very astute, and I thank you for noticing the internal rhyme. I find it more challenging than end rhyme, but a poem by any name is still a poem. I will adjust it just cuz you mentioned it. ;-)
Rodgers Avatar
July 8, 2024 at 10:06 AM
Dear Lin, I could feel the pain and the sorrow of this one. I hope that it is cathartic for you and helps with the healing. I find that when I pen poems about the hardness in my life, it makes me feel a little more connected to myself and understand the history. Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel
Lane Avatar
July 8, 2024 at 10:41 AM
These are remnants of old wounds, Daniel. They're not as painful as they once were and were cathartic at the time. I was just browsing through my oldies and read this one. Reposted for the sake of nothing in particular. Thank you for your sentimental thoughts.
M  Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Beautifully sad lovely Lin written with your golden pen! You write matters of the heart incredibly well! Love this….Debx
Lane Avatar
July 8, 2024 at 7:41 AM
Thank you for always offering me such sweet comments, Deb.
Cunningham Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 10:35 AM
A very emotional write that tugs at the heart strings, I think we've all heard misery's tragic tune playing as we go through life. We all strive to be happy, but sometimes fate has other ideas. Well written Lin. A fave for me Tom
Lane Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Some of these take a toll on my heart, Tom. Reliving loves from the past are a melancholy task to undertake. Why do I do that? It would take another dozen writes to dig that deeply. Thank you.
Kitchin Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Lin, a wonderful emotive poem. - hugs
Lane Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Thank you so much, Tania.
Lawless Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 7:50 AM
Thus is the soul of a poet scourged and purified, the words "tried of the fire" setting the pages aflame with passion's joyous pain. Beautiful write Lin.
Lane Avatar
July 7, 2024 at 10:56 AM
A true reading of lost love, poetically cried, written and spoken. Thank you for feeling the emotions I sought to portray, John.
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