Lithaniel and She

The dark wood is breathing blue,

   and sense do I the sweet sound

   of larks and their legendary love,

   and sweeter scents still do I

   drink of Apollo's bidding,

   'neath forest roof and billowed sky,

   Lithaniel upon her woody heights

Aloft  'neath crest of moons,

   and a yawning lake of crimson trim,

   wedded and blushing,

To sunsets red as soft sylph lips,

   and dawns to dream of her beauty;

   easy solace stretched out in all her glory 


Many times have I entered her house 

   once bitter,

   guilty of lesser climes,

   drunk with evil;

Yet for the unfailing footpaths 

   winding with lilac copses,

   ' et le gentil colline'

   sobered a fool and his silent darkness,

   tamed to truth at last

No joys for my labors,

   nor dull love gives me pleasure

   with her arms empty to another,

   a 'new' perfume to rouse envy;

Lithaniel's decor of sheen forests

   and rolling solitude remind of her;

   my hands touch leaf and wind,

   yet not she....

Her soul in the shadow of all things,

   her sweet breath in the waves of fields

   and birds in flight grin of loss -----

   such sorrow to grieve her while she lives!


Never could I have her always

   as sure as my sight does see

   beauty arrayed and stretching to lime seas;

   love must go its way....

   hazel-eyed with tears....

No pain could I hold her still,

   us now too wild with death ----

   kisses gray with ancient love,

   her hand cold and unmet


Lithaniel I must leave,

   as her ----

   as she of old loves,

   dreaming in the woods....

   yet I dared to ask her,

   many a memory past

   ' Come, walk with me once more? '


Once more we walked Lithaniel's

   summer purge, cruel to a point

   with bright hope at noon;

Children, and mothers and fathers ----

   and a white and black swan 

   leaning still as two in swanny kiss;

Some new love is more the day,

   fresh as spring rain,

   the sun seldom takes leave

   blinded by old clouds, but clear to smile

   as a baby's glee;

We have wandered too far.....

   there is no soul to each,

   no soft peck and tickled whisper....

The world glows as some planet-god

   no more,
 
Though I held her for a time,

   in some strange wind,

   she is gone -----

   forever walking the setting sun

And Lithaniel weary with sleep

   (the company of moons I keep)

   Keeper of the elder love,

   to soft shadows and sleep

  (night shall be my gracious host)

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 3/19/2015 12:28:00 PM
KEITH, Congratulations on your awesome win..... Luv ~LINDA~
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Date: 5/2/2014 7:24:00 AM
An excellent write! I could almost feel the musical accompaniment with this lovely poem...
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O.J. Hunt Avatar
Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 5/2/2014 2:02:00 PM
Thanks Lily, would love to hear that music too!
Date: 5/1/2014 9:45:00 AM
The raconteur of tales of yore! romantic and heartfelt. Merits a top rating! // paul
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Date: 5/1/2014 9:40:00 AM
What an iteresting and passion laced piece, I love how you express yourself.
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Date: 4/29/2014 6:38:00 PM
Wow, Keith! You kept me mesmerized with this wonderful tale of love and loss. You should have been born in the British Romantic Period of literature as your writing emulates that of Byron, Keats and Shelley. You are a born storyteller with a gift for poetry as well. Love it! Carolyn
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O.J. Hunt Avatar
Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 4/29/2014 10:41:00 PM
Thanks Carolyn for the wonderful compliment! I am fond of the old Classical voice yes... Enjoy!
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