Ink Empress Poet Elegy

Notes About The Poem

written for the elegy contest sponsored by constance la france. I wrote about my late uncle, i was talking about writing an elegy to my twin sister, and she and i reminisced our late uncle, although i wasnt sure if i wanted to get there, and switch on the grieving, that is always there somewhere within, but sometimes we just learn to go on like the quote iv used says. But then, last night when i went to sleep, i closed my eyes, and i saw him, after a long time... smiling.. so this, i wrote... with love and tears.  He was very young and charismatic and my favorite uncle and still is.. (sorry for the rambling)

Elegy for my late Uncle

  “Grief is like the ocean. The waves ebb and flow. Sometimes the water is calm. Other times it's turbulent. In order to survive, I had to learn to swim. In moments when I struggled with massive waves of grief, I rode it out.” 
Dana Arcuri  

When the pearl moon is sinking 
and the sea dreams in silence,  
when the skies reflect 
  the sunrise within sighs,  
I close my eyes and unlock 
  my grieving heart.  
There, your sincere smile glows
  like a string of golden pearls,  
and your song, an echoing melody,  
while jasmine rain croons 
into the mourning mists.  
And I whisper to the stars:
 show me what it's like in heaven,  
where angels and fairies 
sway to your vanilla laughter,  
for I am still healing from 
the shadows of your demise.

I remember, 
I was a teenage tempest 
dressed in crusts of raven,  
but you saw 
unicorns and butterflies
soaring above 
whirling waves of angst.  
and wove my darkness 
with acrylic glitter. 
You were the antidote 
  to my bleeding ink.  
you were the sakura spring
 among my tattered twigs,  
you watched me laugh 
into the gothic duskiness.

Somehow seeking fireflies 
within my summer maze,
did illuminate your weathered time, 
like rainbow roses, 
engrossed in emerald empathy.
You always knew the 
right phrase to rhyme,  
subtle syllables to 
write every wrong.  
You were my comfort 
on lonely days.
The uncle, I cherish, 
so young and charismatic…

Orchids in your 
orchard still sprout~
flaunting their colors 
in your mauve memory,   
and your seraphic aura lingers  
as the magnetic essence
      of eternal warmth.  
Now I am draped in 
  mementos and euphonious wind-chimes,
emanating the fragrance 
   of evergreen grass and soulful sunflowers. 
Someday, I will find my way
     to your empyrean home, 
        where you reside in poetry and affection… 

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Constance La France August 7, 2024 at 1:35 PM Ink, congratulations on your win in my contest with this wonderful and emotional elegy poem, I liked it a lot, well done, love the quote too, Constance

Christuraj Alex July 23, 2024 at 6:41 PM "I whisper to the stars: show me what it's like in heaven, where angels and fairies sway to your vanilla laughter" - Very beautiful. Congratulations!

Paula Goldsmith July 23, 2024 at 9:46 AM Back with Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your lovely write/tribute for your late Uncle again. Have a wonderful day writing away................

Deb M July 23, 2024 at 7:47 AM Just so beautiful Sweet girl! Your memories of your uncle are so precious…he would be so proud of you and the loving words you wrote for him….Those memories will keep your heart warm! Lovely tribute Sweet Ink! Debx

Hiba Junaid July 23, 2024 at 5:04 AM this is an absolute gem. i hope you find your uncle in heaven, ink <3

Andrea Dietrich July 22, 2024 at 9:33 PM This is so beautiful and completely comprehensible for me as well as touching. Congrats on a well deserved win. A fave

Tonye George July 22, 2024 at 1:50 AM The love stays, and the hurts stay much longer. Dear, Inky you have written this from your heart and I can feel it. I always resonate with your poems. It hits me right on the spot like, it's a direct talk. I've never had the guts to write about the two things that make me shed tears. I just thought about that right now. I wanted to in Silent One " I couldn't talk about it so I wrote a poem." My pen didn't move. So I stopped. You are strong and you are talented. I miss my uncle so much, he was- Tonye George July 22, 2024 at 1:55 AM The closest human I had as a father. Now I just cry and wish. "for I am still healing from the shadows of your demise. I remember, I was a teenage tempest dressed in crusts of raven." Thank you for comforting me and telling me it's not abnormal to cry after this long time. Best wishes for the contest. A great entry.

Valsa George July 20, 2024 at 5:19 AM As usual, you are pouring out your feelings in beautiful, deeply moving poetry. The demise of a dear one especially at a young age is so soul shattering. I can sense the depth of the bond you had with your uncle. One who understands our inner feelings in times when we are down with grief and comes to us with words of consolation will stay forever in our heart. I had a first cousin who was of my age who died in a scooter accident some forty four years back. He stayed in our house during the first year of his college study. His fond memories still haunt me. I can very well relate to your feelings, sweet friend. "Someday, I will find my way to your empyrean home, where you reside in poetry and affection… " A beautiful conclusion to your great tribute.

Nette Onclaud July 19, 2024 at 8:44 PM the sense of longing is so palpable that your verse becomes a slice of meaningful life...a grreat offering, ink !

Silent One July 19, 2024 at 2:00 PM You have done an elegy in your own unique style and like you say this is how your poetic pen thinks and that is really impressive.. So many people can touch our lives, I have some great uncles, but they live so far... I can see you were very close to him and have expressed that with deep emotive lines like.. "you saw unicorns and butterflies soaring above whirling waves of angst." I am happy someone understood you during those difficult times.. We dont want to be a misunderstood metaphor..

Paige Hind July 19, 2024 at 1:27 PM Very beautiful- love the feeling of the chimes speaking his memory, a pleasure to come across your art today <3

Sara Kendrick July 19, 2024 at 11:45 AM You must have loved him very much. I have been in the last couple or more years been dreaming about my favorite uncle and aunt who passed probably fifty years ago. I have missed and thought about them so much over the years but then the dreams about them when they were young even before my time seems so real. Your work reads like a good contender to me for the contest. way to go. Sara K

Paula Goldsmith July 19, 2024 at 10:05 AM A lovely write/tribute for your late Uncle. So Sorry... Thanks for the note on the top. I enjoyed reading this one with a great ending. Good memories are the best kind to have. "Good Luck" We both did this one. Have a blessed day/weekend writing away..................

Hilda Greenhough July 19, 2024 at 9:01 AM Such a loss. Your uncle resonates to have been one of those few special persons who light a young person's life. I felt the warmth of your tribute.

Lioness Onpaper July 19, 2024 at 7:32 AM Ooo that opening line though!! pearl moon is sinking and the sea dreams in silence,.. love the imagery ..healing from the shadows of your demise… your sincere smile.. a string of golden pearls, your song, an echoing melody, while jasmine rain croons into the mourning mists. the heaviness in these lines r amazing.. flaunting their colors in your mauve memory, I am draped in mementos ... I will find my way to your empyrean home, mmmm the flow is effortless papi.. gorgeous!! Lioness Onpaper July 19, 2024 at 8:39 AM Papi means “ father” she is my father figure in life … she my daddy!!! Pure papi!!!

The Aura Rhymes July 19, 2024 at 6:55 AM It’s so sad … brings back so many memories . Wish he was still around .