Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

Melancholy's Garden

Lost in a wistful arbor, where malaise blooms,
Mists flower in hypnotic bleak violet dusks
Shades of brooding melancholy  
Bruise my treasured bouquets of dreams
And plod through ponderous mists 
In metamorphic doldrums

Cold inertia spirals into lamentations,
Midnights drugged with stupor
Lean heavy on my homeless hermit heart
In withering labyrinths of tangled voices,
Atonal buds of plaintive paeans,
When pensive lethargy pierces dawn.

My rose, in apathy, sees no reason to bloom
As shades of gloom birth shadow seasons
And pale fretting’s unbroken gaze dulls dawn’s hues
Clouds of sighs ravish new shoots
Born in sweet trances of possibility -
Each breath a tedious indecision wrapped in enigma.

Dullness shrouds each new growth in greyness
A slow march into inertia’s bower of cathexis.

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Susan Ashley December 14, 2023 at 8:49 AM My Dearest Rhyme Time Friend, you had me at the first amazing line, "Lost in a wistful arbor, where malaise blooms" -sets the captivating emotive tone immediately. Such poignant beauty unfolds with potent poetic finesse, "My rose, in apathy, sees no reason to bloom" -oh, the dismal power of the "ponderous mists" and the despair of living with a "homeless hermit heart". "Melancholy's Garden" blooms in exquisite shades of gray expression under the soulful command of your sunshine-golden pen. Congratulations, my sweet poetry sis, for your excellent win in Ink Empress's contest with this emotive and evocative piece. Warmest wishes sent on pristine pastel petals of thoughts and dreams.. ~Susan

Ink Empress December 13, 2023 at 8:32 AM Dear Sam, i really love the wordplay here and the title especially stood out for me along with so many lines that truly shows that this is an evocative poem that comes from a deep place. I absolutely loved your wordplay too. And concept, to deliver your thoughts in such eloquence, thank you for supporting my contest. Congratulations on your win .

Nancy Kaufman July 5, 2023 at 3:44 PM This is a poignant and pitifully painful poem. It made me sigh deeply twice while reading it. However, so well crafted as usual Sam. Best of luck in your contest.

Valsa George July 4, 2023 at 5:23 AM What powerful images of sadness and melancholy....! A garden of melancholy ! A great oxymoron. A garden is a place of delight. But in this garden, 'only malaises bloom' and even roses find no reason to open where 'Each breath is a tedious indecision wrapped in enigma'. Phrases like' homeless hermit heart' sends darts of pain through the soul and leaves the heart heavy. No wonder your poem is placed at the top of the best hundred list. Hearty Congratulations dear Sam, though belated!

John Watt June 27, 2023 at 11:21 PM Oh, the soil in this garden is rich in shadows of the heart, Sam. Your flowerbed has seen the gamut of soul scars: malaise, lethargy, inertia, fretting, sighs, lamentations, brooding. So emotionally deep and relatable to any who have traveled through the slough of despond. Beautifully crafted with metaphor and imagery, but most significantly, this garden yields the aroma of the writer's compassion and empathy. Congratulations on your win and Best New Poem ~ R&Rbro

Nancy Kaufman May 23, 2023 at 8:56 AM Belated congratulations Sam on this well crafted poem. I'm quite familiar with Ms. Melancholy and I love the metaphors, "my rose, in apathy, sees no reason to bloom", the heaviness is so well expressed through out. Sam Kauffman May 23, 2023 at 10:03 AM Hi Nancy! Thank you for your congratulations. So appreciated. Having visited this "garden" on occasion I remember the "heaviness" - a great word to describe this feeling! Writing this poem was an interesting journey into the darkness and inertia of melancholy. Ready to be back in the sunshine! Sending you blessings of joy and my gratitude for your most perceptive feedback! Thank you!

Charlotte Puddifoot May 16, 2023 at 5:14 AM an original idea to portray melancholy as a garden; some beautiful images and use of language - congrats on your win in craig's contest! :) Sam Kauffman May 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM Charlotte, thank you so much for your generous compliments and inspiring feedback. I am deeply honored and very grateful. This poem was truly a challenge to explore this emotion that strips the heart and soul of any desire to move forward or even move - inertia's godchild! Blessings of joy to you!!

Laura Leiser May 15, 2023 at 7:51 PM Love the rose reference and stunning descriptions to ponder, Sam. Excellent! Congrats on your win! :) Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 11:18 AM Hi Laura! So wonderful to hear from you! Thank you so much for your beautiful feedback and note of congratulations. This was a difficult theme for me but, that being said, I am glad I dove into its depths. The rose line is key to the poem. Thank you again for bringing some sunshine into the cloudiness of melancholy. Blessings of clear skies and sunlight to you!

Jay Narain May 15, 2023 at 11:49 AM beautiful poem. Have not seen one like this before. Winner after all. Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 11:14 AM Thank you so much Jay for your visit and your lovely feedback! I am deeply grateful. While this is a subject I wouldn't choose to write on, I am pleased with the results of my journey into this intense emotion. Blessings of joy to you!

Christuraj Alex May 14, 2023 at 7:30 PM "My rose, in apathy, sees no reason to bloom" - Beautifully written. Congratulations! Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 11:08 AM Thank you so much Chris! Besides the word "malaise" that line is key to the poem. Thank you for recognizing it! Sending you blessings of joy!

Kim Rodrigues May 14, 2023 at 7:06 PM Love the line: “Each breath a tedious indecision wrapped in enigma.” Congratulations on your podium win, Sam! Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 11:07 AM Thank you so much Kim! What a joy to rise out of melancholy and lethargy to share the podium with you! Blessings!

Unseeking Seeker May 12, 2023 at 7:44 PM I’m always amazed by your word craft, Sam ~ as you delicately weave each masterpiece! Simply fabulous! Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 10:59 AM Thank you so much Seeker! I am deeply touched by your beautiful response. It is a joy to share being a wordsmith with you! I look at the title of your entry, Ennui, and marvel at your ability to weave together words and images into a tapestry of poetic delight. Sending you blessings of joy my friend!!

Daniel Turner May 11, 2023 at 7:43 PM Pretty grim, Sam. The first sentence sets up the entire poem. Malaise is the key word. (IMO) Well written:) Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 10:54 AM Hi Daniel! Grim is such a good word to describe melancholy! You are so correct in your assessment of the foundational word - malaise - that set up everything that followed. Melancholy, for me, goes beyond simple definitions of sadness or depression as it robs those who experience it of movement dragging them into a pit where there is no movement and nothing stirs them into action. It is a place of sighs - a place I don't want to visit. Hope you are well. Thank you so much for your message and your feedback. Always appreciated. Always like finding a gem in the sand. Blessings!

Valsa George May 10, 2023 at 9:32 PM The nuances of melancholy are so well dissected and analyzed. The whole poem is shrouded in the grey mist of melancholy and each carefully chosen word and image enhances the gloom. Even the rose fails to attenuate the hovering inertia and stupor. Some of the expressions like 'homeless hermit heart', 'indecision wrapped in enigma', 'inertia's bower of cathexis' etc are superb. Into my FAVE. Sam Kauffman May 16, 2023 at 10:46 AM Dearest Valsa, thank you! I am truly gratified by your fav - such an honor. Your perceptive feedback about "dissecting" and "analyzing" melancholy is spot on for that reflects my journey into trying to understand all the aspects of this devastating emotion that robs people of joy. While this poem was not fun to write, I do feel a sense of satisfaction about its expression of melancholy. The images and expressions came from that journey! Thank you! Sending you blessings of sunny days.!

Brian Sambourne May 10, 2023 at 10:05 AM A deeply layered write with a strong metaphorical reach from garden to the human pain of melancholy with deep roots. The alliteration is outstanding. This poem is a winner in so many ways. Congratulations! Brian Sam Kauffman May 10, 2023 at 10:27 AM Thank you so much Brian. I am deeply touched by your wonderful feedback. This theme brought back many moments and memories of the feelings surrounding the feeling of melancholy - hope for a wish not granted in wistful sighs. I kept thinking about Eeyore in his gloomy place! That picture seemed to spark the emotion of this poem. I am so grateful for your supportive message. It does raise my spirits out of the mist and into the sunlight - a place I much prefer! Blessings to you and appreciation!