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Melancholy

no time of peace from ink stains inside the mind
                                         a fluted overlapping
                                         blackish pool
as melancholy rises like a child's lost balloon
                                     snatched by wind

sometimes a sadness of swimming in circles
bald days of "what will I do?"
                       "how will I cope?"
exhausting in their dulling
these shadows that have the force of grief pinned to one,
                                              a brooch of blocked choosing
                                              inner disarray 
                                              motivation stunted

a melancholy that has no pleasant intervals
                         when given to rummaging through debris 
                         piled like festered leaves
internal challenge, to climb back up the bank
to reclaim a fertile turf of happy endings
trying to smear away a melancholic blue
by opening one's self to signs that glue



Poem written May 8, 2023

Copyright © Brian Sambourne | Year Posted 2023

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Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 5/16/2023 4:57:00 AM this is one of my personal favourites on the winner's list; excellent imagistic writing as always..i particularly like the last two lines - congrats on your win in the contest! Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/16/2023 1:54:00 PM Thank you Charlotte. The poem needs some revision + I will tinker with that editing process. I am seldom satisfied with my postings. Words can be sharpened. With appreciation, Brian

Sam Kauffman Date: 5/15/2023 11:02:00 AM Brian, congratulations on your win. Every time I see one of your poems I know I am in for a visual, poetic treat - "sadness...swimming in circles," "bald days," "no signs of peace from ink stains inside the mind." Every carefully honed image is an invitation to feel melancholy but led to the challenge of finding hope again! So well written. High fives! Blessings! Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/15/2023 1:40:00 PM My appreciation, Sam, for your detailed, encouraging assessment of my piece. I am still tinkering with it - but that is the positive flip of revision. One can always improve. Many thanks for your note. Sincerest regards, Brian

Kim Rodrigues Date: 5/15/2023 6:23:00 AM Congratulations, Brian! Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/15/2023 8:12:00 AM Thank you Kim. The poem needs some revision as I am discontented with some lines. Cheers, Brian

Christuraj Alex Date: 5/14/2023 7:38:00 PM "rising like a child's lost balloon snatched by wind" - Beautifully written. Congratulations! Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/14/2023 8:07:00 PM Thank you Christuraj. Very thoughtful of you to drop me congratulatory wishes. Cheers, Brian

Sotto Poet Date: 5/10/2023 11:16:00 AM Brian. you rose very well to the contest theme. Sadness and grief are equally powerful emotions that can arouse feelings. And if we seem to spend all of our time rooting around in the muck, it's possible that we're struggling with an unrelenting bout of sadness. Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/10/2023 7:08:00 PM Hello Lassad, Your wise insights always add to a poet's musings. So true that rooting around in muck is a quagmire sadness. However, I hope that your spirits are up + buoyant. Best wishes, Brian

Paul Callus Date: 5/10/2023 10:32:00 AM Moments of melancholy could become overwhelming, Brian, but reclaiming "a fertile turf of happy endings" is always a possibility. ~ Regards // paul Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/10/2023 7:12:00 PM Greetings Paul, There's the rub - how to reclaim that fertile turf of optimism. And why (through strength of will) are some successful while others not? Sometimes circumstance + addiction issues are a pit too steep to climb out of. Thank you for your comments. Cheers Brian

Kim Rodrigues Date: 5/8/2023 5:00:00 PM a melancholy that has no pleasant intervals when given to rummaging through debris…can be true Login to Reply Brian Sambourne Date: 5/8/2023 5:34:00 PM Yes indeed, Kim. That debris might be memories of a regretful past, the breakdown of a significant relationship + so much more. Thank you for your stop by + comment. Best wishes, Brian