Poet's Spectre, My Ghosts Are Not Diaphanous

Beauty that is mirrored is that beauty?
Absent love leads phantom duty
My running pen speaks not so bright
In its ink hide ghosts by night

It’s intimate with willing paper
White bond drinks up all black vapor
The curves, the contours, strokes—I gape!
Appear in spectral words of shape

And whisper sounds from verse I fashion
But lacking substance, wraith-like passion
Attempts the work of a lover missing
Does not convince my lip she’s kissing.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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

Arnone Avatar
July 31, 2016 at 4:44 PM
Really good. I like the way you play with words. Suggestion: On the last stanza, line two, put a space or a hyphen between wraith and like. :-)
Moss Avatar
August 4, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Point happily taken (though I have been known to overuse hyphens, and commas, and words for that matter!). Thanks, Tom.
Kimathi Avatar
June 8, 2016 at 8:18 AM
Diaphanous?! Thanks for adding more words into my vocabulary wardrobe!! *_^ Congrats Dalton, for your top placement in the contest!! ;-)
Smith Avatar
June 7, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Well done Dalton, congratulations and welcome to what you hope the Soup will be...
Lamoureux Avatar
June 7, 2016 at 7:27 AM
Cool! Congrats on your win.
Marcum Wong Avatar
June 7, 2016 at 6:02 AM
Wow, this is your first post? A warm welcome to Poetry Soup. Affectionately known PS. I thought thispoem was amazing and so well written. Congratulations on your top win! Aloha, Connie#7 ; )
Moss Avatar
July 21, 2016 at 6:13 PM
You are very generous with praise. (A belated "thank you.")
Rodrigues Avatar
June 6, 2016 at 11:10 PM
Intersting ink! Congratulations!
Nance Avatar
June 6, 2016 at 9:37 PM
This gave me chills, I very much enjoyed! Thank you for entering my contest and grats on your win.
Moss Avatar
July 21, 2016 at 6:15 PM
Thank you for creating that contest--it was a very nice welcome!
A  Avatar
June 4, 2016 at 12:34 AM
Dalton, Welcome to Poetry Soup. It will be a delight to read and become familiar with your poems in the future. As for now, I will greet you with the same smile others passed when I first joined the soup. Wishing you and your poetry the best. I hope you get to meet all the nice poets around here STARTING with me- SKAT :) Drop a hello and tell me a little about yourself if you wish. I would like to be your newest poetry soup "FRIEND" Hugs **YNR - SKAT**
Moss Avatar
June 4, 2016 at 4:34 PM
Thanks for the welcome. To me poetry is a venue between visual, (drawing and painting) and auditory (working an instrument). The former attracts me, the latter hasn’t a chance. As in music some poems please by sound--that’s the closest I will come to satisfying auditory. Writing poetry is enjoyable just for the doing; if it pleases me, fine, but I know that improvement comes from outside of me.
Dietrich Avatar
June 3, 2016 at 9:47 PM
oooh, great poem. I am glad to be one of the first to make your acquaintance here. Thanks for your comment on cinder Girl. Hope to see you again and again. For sure, if you keep writing poems like this one. You know what? put Ghost on this one in the title. It could serve in the ghost contest going on at this very minute.
Moss Avatar
June 4, 2016 at 4:35 PM
Done!
Moss Avatar
June 4, 2016 at 2:01 PM
Your suggestion is well taken and I'm scratching my head while I write (not a great typist so one hand can be free with no bad effect!) Thanks for your response!
A   Avatar
June 2, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Dalton, Welcome to Poetry soup, I hope you enjoy the community. Here, you will find friendly poets who enjoy supporting one another. I myself, enjoy reading and commenting those who want to be read. The only time I give constructive criticism is when a poet desires it. However, if for some reason the poem is not my field I will guide you to someone who is more qualified than I. Stop by and read one of my poems if you like. My poems are not perfect, but I have a feeling you might like one. I encourage you to check out the contest page and read to receive comments. Tell me a little about your poetic skills if you like. It will be my pleasure to follow and read every poem you post from here on :) We are Lucky To Have you. Your New Poet Friend @-> LINDA <-@
Moss Avatar
June 3, 2016 at 12:32 AM
Thank you Linda. I appreciate your thoughtful comment. Crafting words into something that is easy to read is the hardest work. As they say, if it is easy to read it was hard to write. I enjoy the challenge and certainly can use help!
Gupta Avatar
June 2, 2016 at 10:08 PM
Mystic metaphors... nice...
Bauer Avatar
June 2, 2016 at 6:00 PM
very cleverly written - i enjoyed...
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace