If You Only Knew

From your invalid's bed
You pined for the beach
Too far out of reach
For weakened feet to tread

He gathered devotion for the quest
And packed obligation
Atop expectation
For your smile's beauty to express

He strained beneath the boulder's stack
As frost bitten wind sliced his skin
And fingertips split where blood ran thin
When that frigid mountain fought back

Then he rode on deserts of fire
Under the sunburned moon
He bridled the dunes
For your hopeful eyes he aspired

At last, salty sea allowed his descent
To glitter of exotic shores
Lustrous shells from wave filled floors
Captured in jars, mighty ocean's scent

Here is a man who follows through
But all you saw in your hand
A dirty case of sand
If you only knew, you fickle fool.

10/25/20
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 11/24/2020 6:14:00 PM
Congratulations dear Michelle..A truly magnificent piece..
Login to Reply
Date: 11/20/2020 11:11:00 AM
Hello Michelle Faukner, yes if he only knew. Enjoy your day my friend.
Login to Reply
Date: 10/27/2020 8:50:00 AM
Congratulations on your win, Michelle :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Login to Reply
Date: 10/26/2020 8:52:00 PM
Wow! Congrats!
Login to Reply
Date: 10/26/2020 8:40:00 PM
Congratulations, Michelle , on your win! Hugs Eve
Login to Reply
Date: 10/26/2020 5:24:00 PM
Congratulations on your win Michelle!
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:38:00 PM
Thank you, Mark.
Date: 10/26/2020 2:07:00 PM
Occasionally one meets up with a work of art or literature that is clearly quite profound. One then seeks to understand it, but somehow doesn't know quite what to make of it -- other than that it is superb... This is one of those occasions, Michelle. ~ Still seeking, Gershon
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:37:00 PM
This is actually based on an old fable I heard a long time ago, and the moral is 'The journey is part of the gift' - meaning the effort that is put into the gift is what does - or doesn't - make it special - and the gifts of your kindness and appreciation are something I value greatly, my friend~
Date: 10/26/2020 12:06:00 PM
Well expressed difference between frigid and fried deserved more than a placement! Aloha! Rico
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:30:00 PM
This did swing from one extreme to the other, I guess!
Date: 10/26/2020 11:39:00 AM
I'm thinking this has something to do with the thwarted anniversary seashore date? Your enclosed rhymes depicted so well the inherent risks of the outdoors along with the thrill of conquest. I loved the lines "To glitter of exotic shores / Lustrous shells from wave filled floors". Congrats on your win, Michelle, this is a new fave.
Login to Reply
Watt Avatar
John Watt
Date: 10/27/2020 10:46:00 AM
There is an endurance race called 'Cactus To Clouds' that goes roughly 100 miles, starting at the lowest point on earth (Death Valley) to the highest point in the continental US (Mt. Whitney) that your poem kind of reminds of. I like the fable you referenced 'the journey is part of the gift'. I agree!
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:27:00 PM
Actually I wrote this about a year and a half ago, but never got around to posting it, so when this contest was posted I remembered it, had to fish through my old notebooks but I found it - I made a couple of small changes for the contest but otherwise it is the same, I'm glad you liked those lines (it was one I changed, to be honest)!
Date: 10/26/2020 11:29:00 AM
Hi Michelle, Congratulations on your placement in the contest. Have a wonderful day:-) Alexis
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:23:00 PM
Thanks so much, Alexis.
Date: 10/26/2020 10:04:00 AM
I agree with Silent One. She lost out on this one. A great poem expressed well! :)
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:17:00 PM
I appreciate your kind words, thank you!
Date: 10/26/2020 9:20:00 AM
Damn.. looks like she missed out.. Congratulations on your placement..
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:15:00 PM
Thank you for the placement in your contest!
Date: 10/25/2020 9:33:00 PM
Michelle, Wonderful desert, mountain and sea in Enclosed Rhyme, this poem 'If you only knew'. A Fave with a smile. -Richard
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:14:00 PM
I am so touched by your generous comment, thank you so much~
Date: 10/25/2020 1:24:00 PM
- Great metaphorically written, Michelle :) - Best wishes for a win in the contest :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Login to Reply
Faulkner Avatar
Michelle Faulkner
Date: 10/26/2020 7:14:00 PM
Thanks, Anne-Lise, hugs back!
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter