Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

Lament

Lament

Brooding days,
     Vanquished in the unconnected gloom,
            Shower frost,
Standing watch at dawn to pierce the morning
With an artic tempest,
Swirling ‘cross a land lost in forgetfulness:
            Sighing
Beneath borderless views of snow unbroken,
Where nothing dare disturbs
         The unchanging vision
But a single line of footprints 
When skies of grey and bleaker daylight
Lean so close to earth
They lay their heaviness upon a homeless wood sprite
Wandering in the raw breath of twilight dawning,
    Caught by phantom gusts
        Spiraling down,
Shivering as the brumaled wind
Runs its fingers
Through the marrow of the soul			
Where slumber languishes,                                                                                                                                              
Icebound
  As plodding steps
    Frantically searching groves of tangled silver linden,
Pursued
   And haunted
      By the relentless midnight sun;
Errant fugitive,
    Followed by the wispy remnants of a golden morning,
Trembling
As barren aspen branches
Beneath bright errant bursts of fiery lights -
  Racing
   Across
    The northern sky -
Taunting
  Tortured
     Eyes
       Seeing only to remember;
Grasping
  For a single crocus
    Plunged into yearning
Until the boreal shadows
   Touch                                                                                                                                       

    The depth of darkness
Bidding nordic sprite to sit,
   To rest,
Curled up against a frozen birch of black and white,
Taking final flight on tattered winds
Heralding the touch of sunlight.																						
Godspeed my friend

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Lonna Blodgett September 22, 2021 at 5:27 PM Beautiful saga of loss of someone to incredibly dear. My heart bleeds Sam! Lonna

Constance La France September 22, 2021 at 10:04 AM congratulations on your win in my L contest with your poem, splendid writing ~ love and serenity _Constance

Beryl Edmonds September 21, 2021 at 5:29 PM A heartfelt moving Lament Sam, I read below that it was written in grief and memory of a dear friend, it’s a beautiful tribute. Congratulations on your win in the contest… Belle Sam Kauffman September 22, 2021 at 9:37 AM Thank you so much Belle. Kathy was a bright light who loved blue glass and daisies. We met at story time in our local library when our kids were little. Writing Lament helped to focus my sense of loss while honoring her memory all at the same time. I was so grateful for the opportunity to re-introduce this poem. Hope you are well. Sending you all the blessings of the season.

Christuraj Alex September 16, 2021 at 10:11 AM "As barren aspen branches Beneath bright errant bursts of fiery lights - Racing Across The northern sky - Taunting Tortured Eyes Seeing only to remember; Grasping For a single crocus" Beautiful Work. Congratulations! Sam Kauffman September 21, 2021 at 10:05 AM Thank you so much Chris! I wrote this after losing a dear friend to suicide. The contest was a wonderful opportunity to bring this poem back into the light! I am so grateful for your message and your congratulations! Sending you blessings!

John Watt March 25, 2020 at 12:16 PM "Through the marrow of the soul / Where slumber languishes". Made me wonder if this was connected to your "Dancing Star" poem, or two different friends. This lamentation is deep, dark, real, and hopeful. All in keeping with Jeremiah's lamentation crying out to God. Wonderful use of nature, weather, flora, and light to your message of hope peeping through the darkness. I'm touched ~ John Sam Kauffman March 25, 2020 at 4:09 PM Yes, it does have echos of Jeremiah. This was written for a friend who took her life - a bright light who loved daisies of Scandinavian descent. Hence the setting and the season. I am so glad your saw the hope "peeping" out at the end. Thank you, as always, for your perceptive assessment of the poetic elements. I really do appreciate your feedback. Blessings on your day!

Eve Roper January 16, 2020 at 11:04 PM Great verse, Sam, congratulations your win. Eve Sam Kauffman January 17, 2020 at 11:38 AM Hi Eve, Thank you for your message and your congratulations! This one was difficult to write but I am so glad I went through the process of grieving for my friend.

Sam Kauffman January 16, 2020 at 1:04 AM I think both of us wrote about pressing issues in unique ways and, in my mind, that is one of the reasons for writing poetry! Thank you for your congrats.

Edward Ibeh January 15, 2020 at 9:13 PM Excellent poem, Sam:-) It's better than my Lamentation poem! Congrats on your well-deserved top spot!

Sandra Adams January 15, 2020 at 9:02 PM back to say congratulations on your top win with this great write! :) hugs

Sandra Adams January 14, 2020 at 8:13 PM wow... this is beautiful Sam...so many vivid images throughout this one... exquisite write... love this! :) hugs Sam Kauffman January 15, 2020 at 5:01 PM Hi Sandra, Thank you so much for your message and your feedback. I tried to imagine through a picture of winter the depth of despair of my friend who was Scandinavian.

Sam Kauffman January 13, 2020 at 6:16 PM New Year greetings my friend! Thank you! I am truly blessed by your message. This was written for a dear friend who succumbed to the darkness. I miss her so even after all of these years. You have made my day.

Connie Marcum Wong January 13, 2020 at 5:51 PM Triple WOW for this stunning poem Sam! Your imagery and metaphors took my breath away! This is going straight into my Faves. You have made my day! xxoo