Our Path Full of Whispers, part 1

Sonnet for Antony and Cleopatra
Two Empires Entwined
He gave up Rome to chase her scented air,
 A queen whose kiss could rouse the Nile to sing.
 Her throne was gold, but love her finer snare,
 And he, ensnared, abandoned crown and ring.
 They met as equals, each with pride unbowed,
 Yet love turned war when passion dared to steer.
 In veils of silk and ash, their vows were loud,
 But silence came—his sword, her asp of fear.
 No sweeter end than death beside one’s flame,
 Yet tragic too, when fire consumes the frame.
 For love that seeks to rule will stake its claim,
 And call devotion by possession's name.
 Thus Rome and Egypt met and wept their cost:
 A love unbalanced leaves two empires lost.

Sonnet for Héloïse and Abélard
The Chaste Divide
In cloistered halls where mind and passion burned,
 Two scholars met in verse and midnight thought.
 But virtue’s call their boundless joy upturned,
 And flesh was chastened for the sin it brought.
 She loved him still when time had torn him down,
 And wore no ring, yet wed him in her soul.
 His letters bled regret beneath the gown,
 Yet dared not ask if she was truly whole.
 He taught her love, then walled her voice in vows,
 A gift made prison, though he called it grace.
 She loved with fire; he sought a sacred house,
 But holiness cannot her truth replace.
 Love hides in silence, if not met halfway:
 Two pens still write, but drift in disarray.

Sonnet for Henry and Anne
The Crown and the Guillotine
He broke from Rome to wear her raven eyes,
 A king undone by lust’s impatient flame.
 She danced through court with wit that pierced disguise,
 And turned ambition into courtly game.
 But crowns weigh heavy on a womb unmet,
 And favors sour when sons do not appear.
 He praised her once; then damned her with regret,
 And sealed her fate with whispers sharp and clear.
 She knelt for love and rose for blade and bell,
 Her neck a debt to power’s shifting tide.
 He called it justice—none dared break the spell,
 Though all could see how false was kingly pride.
 So ends the bride who bore the Tudor stain:
 Love, once owned, will never breathe again.

(continued)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Be the first to comment on this poem. Encourage this poet.

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter