One Candle

Her crimson heart blanches,
   broken, her soul aches
never to numb her loss.

When songbirds silently retreat
to tallest treetops, shaken
she lights her solitary restlessness.
On the windowsill, it flickers and flirts
with dusk's sifted air.

Constant burning, I could never imagine this
insatiable, impatient yearning -
for one candle to beacon to one more chance.

She falls, spills over, slumps
into ebony night -
she, steadfast, stifles sobs performing
like in a Shakespearean play,
pretending to want for rise of day.

And I wonder why
         does her lone candle shine
for him? Who deserves her heart sworn 
to love despite a deceptive guise -
no intent to return, only rumors of his lies?

And I wonder why
I feel a kinship with her shadows,
(not yet hopeless or ready to resign), 
they swing, lilting light,
lifting prayers into angelic paths 
beyond, and I wonder.

Her blanched heart,
   broken soul aches,
and I, a passerby, 
wonder why       I bleed her loss
           and still feel the warmth of her candle. 


written 2/15/17
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Burch Avatar
February 28, 2017 at 10:30 PM
Oh!! My goodness Rhonda! This is awesome! Love it! Congratulations sweetie!:) Big Hugggs! Love deb
Singh Avatar
February 25, 2017 at 10:05 PM
Touching verse Congrats on topping the list!
Puddifoot Avatar
February 25, 2017 at 7:06 AM
excellent free verse poem, good use of language and strong closing line - congrats on your 1st place win!
Smith Avatar
February 24, 2017 at 8:40 AM
So sadly well done, congratulations Rhonda...
Parker Avatar
February 23, 2017 at 6:06 PM
I thanked you earlier for writing this poem I now congratulate you for winning the contest
Chansarkar Avatar
February 23, 2017 at 9:25 AM
So sad and heartfelt,Rhonda!
Hamilton Avatar
February 23, 2017 at 8:15 AM
Wow, is all I can say! Congrats on a great write, and win!
May Avatar
February 23, 2017 at 7:03 AM
Great write and win Rhonda..Congrats
Krampe Avatar
February 23, 2017 at 6:57 AM
Congrats on your top win, Rhonda. Beautiful!
Allison Avatar
February 23, 2017 at 3:37 AM
Superb free verse Rhonda - I am in awe of your creativity - adding this to my faves so I can see how to write this form properly!:-) hugs Jan xx
Parker Avatar
February 15, 2017 at 9:48 PM
to see the world through a poet's eyes and hold gently in the palms the beating heart of emotion with a single candle is poetry at its best...thank you for this poem dear poet..
Johnson Avatar
February 15, 2017 at 6:36 PM
Beautifully written, very passionate.
Green Avatar
February 15, 2017 at 5:39 PM
All I can say now is I am glad you stopped by my blog or I might have not seen this fantastic poem and that would have been my loss. You are an amazing poet, your poem is beautifully crafted and the theme, though sad has a certain softness to it that makes it a pleasure to read. I really enjoyed this. I need to pop in on a few more of yours.
Andresen Avatar
February 15, 2017 at 3:15 AM
- A poetic, touching and beautiful poem Rhonda - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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