Notes About The Poem

for " This or that contest " sponsored by Edward Ibeh 

Feigned Flames

The moon dances 
on lonely nights,
to astral beams of
the clear quartz milky way~
I lay in an olive meadow
designed in fragrant
promises,
hidden between thorns 
and thistles disguised
as fields of ferns.
Inhaling life, exhaling pain,
as the Universe unravels
a cosmic shadow that
follows hail storms
brewing in my mind. 

Whilst Vanilla butterfly 
snowflakes swirl
in solitude through dark
December nights,
drizzling shooting stars
upon my poetic heart.
reminding me that 
there’s always pastel
colored sunsets waiting
to smear forsaken skies in
feigned wishes and
mistletoe kisses, 
that last as long 
as inconsistent seasonal
hollow gusts, 
thawing glaciers on icy tips
of my fragile fingers,
with fleeting flames 
quilting lilac lavenders
into a blanket of happiness.

But weary winds 
can pierce
through the strongest 
of roots, 
and I always knew I was on
my own~
an empress without 
an emperor
in an empire of 
raging tempests.

Although, nightingales 
sing soothing serenades,
oblivious to the sinister
sun that lacks empathy,
enshrouding my
grieving spine 
with scorching thick
threads of electric heat,
feeding life above the
emerald waves of time, 
there’s no antidote left
in my empty sphere of
familiar faces, with frosty
chivalrous smiles,
I’ve walked through
frozen miles,
cloaked in sparkling silence,
where hopes and faith
died, like ephemeral 
colors of northern lights,
within the tilted stage
of my tainted black 
and white soul,
releasing a 
wounded sigh.

So, don’t question my 
invisible wand with 
pixie-dust, that 
wipes away every murky
cloud, enveloped 
in hazy unjust; 
I deserve more than 
this pantomime of 
pretend,
of decayed trust,
where wooded
trees stand empty,
with rosy
lies scribbled in blood, 
from envious pens 
and sharpened nails,
full of ferocious fire
on forgotten trunks.. 
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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North Avatar
May 3, 2024 at 11:32 PM
I really love your use of imagery - it is so evocative. Your use of enjambement also really adds to the overall impact. Congratulations on your medal and thank you for sharing your work with us. Best wishes Heidi x
Kerr Avatar
April 9, 2024 at 12:51 AM
Hi Ink Empress, I have returned to compliment you on your first medal selection with this invigorating piece. It has left an indelible mark on me Warm regards Howard
Empress Avatar
April 11, 2024 at 8:23 AM
Thank you so very much so very kind of you im so grateful for your support and for your well wishes
Ibeh Avatar
April 8, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Striking imagery throughout your magnificent poem, Inky. "I lay in an olive meadow designed in fragrant promises, hidden between thorns and thistles disguised as fields of ferns. Inhaling life, exhaling pain"...Wow, I love that line! Heartiest congratulations on your top win in my contest!
Empress Avatar
April 11, 2024 at 8:24 AM
Dear EI im always so grrateful for your generosity and for your deep analysis and understanding of my poems, thank you so very much for placing my poem high, im beyond thankful
George Avatar
April 8, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Back to congratulate you on your win dear Ink.
Empress Avatar
April 11, 2024 at 8:24 AM
Awwn thank you sweet soul truly
Kerr Avatar
March 31, 2024 at 2:31 AM
Dear Ink Empress, I have been completely overwhelmed by this monumental, majestic, magnificent work. Glistening adjectives, platinum word choice, arrays of exquisite light and shade inhabit your poetic canvass. Your Wounded Sigh is etched in vivid visuals and intense feeling. Best of luck with this in contest. For someone of your stature to complement my work is an accolade. Heartfelt thanks Howard
Herrick Avatar
March 30, 2024 at 10:35 PM
To be able to see past the dark cliuds that cause your mind to be forgetful of the beautiful copeful sunrises of hopeful capes to sail, is next to divine. To be be a Poet who can convey and sell the notion's pour over sheer cliffs of feeling truths, with a pen like an "invisible wand" dipped in hearts rosy blooded ink of contrivity, infinity divided by the sublime. A FAVOR RITE dear Ink Empress ed
Beaufort Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 11:05 AM
IE, you have a way to express pain with such extravagant melancholy. I had to read this several times to take in the detail of each painful reminder. No one can take away such pain but you...and it will take courage. I believe many of us would like to help if we can....but much of what we have is just pixie dust. I have often felt that there were likely many people I could relate to..there's no match made in heaven--just work here to find our dreams and make them work by learning from the past.
George Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 8:48 AM
I can sense the depth of the wound you feel in your heart. All the images used are striking and some of the lines cut deep into the soul like a sharp rapier. "I’ve walked through frozen miles, cloaked in sparkling silence, where hopes and faith died, like ephemeral colors of northern lights, within the tilted stage of my tainted black and white soul, releasing a wounded sigh." Wow.... so deep, unmatched in poignancy and pathos. Again another set of striking lines that echo like a rising lament...."I always knew I was on my own~ an empress without an emperor in an empire of raging tempests." I'm dumbfounded! Into my FAVE
George Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 3:50 AM
I love the imagery, the emotions, the metaphors and all the feelings infused purely in it. As always you have creatively and evocatively narrated a piece with wounded stems. "and I always knew I was on my own~ an empress without an emperor in an empire of raging tempests." My favourite line here. It's okay to be alone than to be flooded with the wrong people. Great one dear Ink.
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:04 AM
awn dear tonye, you are a very talented poet too and I absolutely love reading your work. Im so honored and grateful to receive your kind and thoughtful comments truly! Sending you light always
Onpaper Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 2:29 AM
lay in an olive meadow designed in fragrant promises,hidden between thorns and thistles… I love how u can bring heaviness to a piece so elegantly papi.. drizzling shooting stars upon my poetic heart… mmm thawing glaciers on icy tips of my fragile fingers, with fleeting flames quilting lilac lavenders into a blanket of happiness… ooo dreamy imagery !! I deserve more than this pantomime of pretend,of decayed trust,.. amen!!! Yess rosy lies scribbled in blood, gorgeously said! Beautiful piece papi
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:05 AM
Papi thank u
Hind Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 6:37 PM
"lies scribbled in blood, from envious pens and sharpened nails, full of ferocious fire on forgotten trunks.. - "enshrouding my grieving spine with scorching thick threads of electric heat"- Wow, I absolutely love this, it's going in my favs
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:05 AM
Awwn thank you so much its alwYs an honor to hear from you i am so very grateful for your favs and also your poetic presence truly! Sending you light always
Buehler Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Ink, I really do admire your impressive writing ability.Your poem, tinged with sadness, also has eloquence and beauty. All good wishes, Evelyn
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:15 AM
Awn thank you dear Evelyn
Baker Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Your imagery, filled with colors and emotions are exquisite, Empress. You are amazing to bare your soul through your poetry, my dear friend. It saddens me to feel your pain and sometimes seemingly loss of hope. As we age all things become more intense at the deeper levels of life. Know there are always people like Sara and me, that think good thoughts about you and send out our light to help you through the darkness. I think your poem will do well, good luck! Your poet friend in Texas, BB
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:24 AM
This is such a thoughtful comment realy, im so grateful for your support, you and sara are special and are my fave poetic couple. I appreciate the fave and also comment truly thank y so very much
Baker Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 3:31 PM
p.s. I forgot to mention that I added this one to my FAVs list. :-) Bill
Eslinger Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 1:44 PM
Empress. A Fave for its passion, power, courage to truth, language, mastery, AND receipt of Inspiration! I also want to add this reinforces my belief in the Now influence of the collective unconscious…i just complete my poem coining Vanilla, reference to storms & light! Yikes Anyway, Applause here & Fabulouspen! sally
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:30 AM
Its been so long! Thank you so much dear sweet sally, i am grateful for your support
Poet Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Dear Ink, your poem is truly remarkable and filled with depth. I admire the way you use imagery and articulate expression to convey the experience of pain and longing with honesty. It feels as though you have exposed your innermost self to the world. I sense a profound sense of sorrow in your words. ---I have journeyed through desolate landscapes, enveloped in a quiet beauty, where my hopes and faith faded away, like fleeting shades of the aurora borealis.
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:38 AM
So grateful to have you back dr sotto thank you so much truly
Rodgers Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 12:01 PM
Dear Empress, Okay, I just loved how your imagery and eloquent expression as it encapsulates the journey through pain and longing with such raw honesty. In many ways, it's as if you peeled back the layers of your soul and laid them bare for the world to see. Your words spoke to the depths of our own struggles and showed us that amidst the storms of life, there is still beauty and resilience to be found. Empress this is such a journey illuminating the path of healing through poetic grace. A Fav for sure! - Blessings, my, friend, Daniel
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:38 AM
Awwn thank you for the fave and blessings dear daniel, im so happy to receive your thoughtful and kind feedback truly
Pandit Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 11:55 AM
I hear the cry of wounded sigh throughout, my friend. ---I’ve walked through frozen miles, cloaked in sparkling silence, where hopes and faith died, like ephemeral colors of northern lights---I deserve more than this pantomime of pretend, of decayed trust--splendidly emotive response to the prompt, Ink.
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:39 AM
Im always grateful for your kind and generous support dear Vijay thank you so very much truly
Rhymes Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 11:34 AM
The moon really do dance on lonely nights . The first line took me back to some time when the moon danced to me . Beautiful poem .
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:39 AM
Awwn thank u dahlin always
One Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 11:10 AM
I've released many a wounded sigh and I can feel the angst in your words.. Your poem beautifully captures the interplay between the celestial and the personal, weaving together themes of loneliness, resilience, and the cyclical nature of life's challenges.. The use of natural elements such as the olive meadow, thorns, and ferns adds layers of texture to the poem, grounding it in the tangible world while also hinting at the hidden complexities of human emotion.
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:40 AM
How beautiful and deep is your comment. You really have a great understanding of metaphors etc and im honored to receive your thoughtful feedback that makes my heart warm. Thank u so much
One Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 11:11 AM
The metaphor of the 'Vanilla butterfly snowflakes' and 'pastel-coloured sunsets' beautifully captures the fleeting moments of joy and hope amidst life's challenges... Your poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, reminding us of the beauty that can be found even in the darkest of nights. It's a poem that invites reflection on the cyclical nature of life's challenges and the enduring power of hope.
Parker Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 11:09 AM
my first thought about your poem was what Khalil Gibran said about love "If love finds you worthy it will find you"
Empress Avatar
March 29, 2024 at 4:41 AM
Awwn i love khalil gibran. Thank you dear frederick. Based on old feelings. I do have a very sweet beloved haha
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