On Night's Broken Stage

The dervish whirls—
deserts fable
over candles,
atop mantle fires,
wings for life.

Salient, a moth
labors over no lands,
exists in The Great,
extends her wings 
to The Wide,
middle-age night

to flutter near the floor,
flit in the rafters—
a lamp,
her vessel for ballet
on night’s broken stage.


© 2017 | June 13 | Wesley T Cutlip
Edited June 30
REVISED - July 7

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017



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Date: 3/6/2018 12:48:00 AM
Excellent ... The poem to linger ...
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Date: 8/8/2017 11:33:00 AM
This is great! Th imagery in each line is amazing. I really love this piece.
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Date: 7/11/2017 1:44:00 PM
Hello Space Cadet this is a wonderful poem I enjoyed reading it.
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Date: 6/24/2017 4:52:00 PM
The visual imagery of this poem is excellent, SC. The message is metamorphic. But, little dense me could not understand the meaning of the title. Please enlighten. Imprinting nature's wisdom on human understanding is a blessing. Ty for dropping the love and knowledge. Very engaging poetry. Love always.
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Space Cadet
Date: 6/25/2017 9:59:00 PM
Hey FR Jr. Thank you for the read and critique. You're right, the title doesn't have any meaning, other than a way to document a group of poems I was working on at one time. When I read this again, I wonder if the main metaphor is the lamp, the lantern rather than The Moth. Thank you again, Sir. Wesley
Date: 6/13/2017 8:11:00 AM
Drawn to the light the dance sets her free... Wonderful Wesley
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Space Cadet
Date: 6/25/2017 9:59:00 PM
Thank you, Tim, for reading.
Date: 6/13/2017 6:57:00 AM
A lamp's vessel is a ballet, love that image :) Sure glad I didn't have to dance so close to the source though...
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Space Cadet
Date: 6/25/2017 10:09:00 PM
I would be delighted to dance close aside The Moth.
Date: 6/13/2017 3:08:00 AM
Great imagery, Wesley! A lamp's vessel is a ballet! I love that line, my friend!
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Space Cadet
Date: 7/7/2017 12:36:00 AM
Thank you, Sir, for your kind words.
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