Notes About The Poem

written for Edward Ibeh contest ~ for the prompt " slow sink" 

used also a word pairing inspired by the talented poetess and supportive soul Lin Lane ~ " tactful treachery" 

and some of the opening words... inspired by a beautiful love poem I read here ~ written by the poet Justin Bordner

thankful for the inspiration 

Slow Sink

Your eagle-plumed lips breathe:
hold on to my angel-flying heart,
bite the unbroken
        bone of my wing,
...and I succumb to your enticing heat,
O, to be free in your feverish flame ~
the humble fall of hope into
the sun-calmed kiss of your sea,
learning to move
and muse amidst the mystery
as I heed the slow sink
of mundane minutes
into splitting silence,
leaving no note of music,
as darkness dissolves
like the deepening daf
of an ancient ache ~
for whirling waves resemble
dervish devotees,
intoxicated by euphoric ecstasies…

But would you, the divinely placed
speaker of light and fate ~
still love my scarred swell
if, perhaps, you saw
the unavoidable ugliness
of unintentional uninterestedness ~
the failure to seek the sun that hides
when wakeful stars scintillate,
perhaps too reluctant to romanticize
anything that warms the sky
besides the saffron of golden dawn?

I am too tired to test the tides,
to see where they crash.
I am too torn to tease
and treat tribes
of tactful treachery with tolerance…

Take me as I am ~
I am the pursuer and the escaper,
the possessor and the possessed,
the wilderness and the peace,
the destruction and the dream,
constantly pushing and pulling,
learning to normalize
being the siren adrift
amidst aquatic angst ~

So wade with me, O oceanic nomad,
someday we will no longer be
just you and I,
but crooning currents
drawn only to the
magnetic magic of the mermaid moon;
we will rise as
Moirai mystics,
dancing with destiny,
engrossed in life’s pulsing peridots,
devouring Pele’s passion…

We were never meant
             to conquer the chaos,
but to candidly claim the clemency
of rippling pearl blooms…
      I am an island of love
                             that is yours truly ~


***Inspired by the artwork; The Sea Maiden, 1894
Herbert James Draper
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

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

George Avatar
September 8, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Back with Congratulations on your first place win dear Empress 👏
Ibeh Avatar
September 8, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Heartiest congratulations on your top win in my contest with this masterpiece, Inky🙏 You never write anything less than great., no matter what form or theme. Yeah, this is a fave.
George Avatar
September 6, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Dear Empress, I was looking for a few lines that impressed me most to quote here. But as the whole poem with all its lines stand equally outstanding, I don't attempt to do it. Your poem simply blew me away. How powerfully you have connected the natural world with the inner landscape! "Take me as I am". This is a wish we all cherish. I take you as a poet nonpareil ! Rejoice in your God given gift. Feel proud I also earned a win with you. Congratulations on your first place win. Faving....
Borg Avatar
September 6, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Back to congratulate you on your 1st Place Trophy win and to re-read your beautiful entry.
Jones Avatar
September 6, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Love those closing lines Ink Empress. A beautiful piece! Congratulations on your first place win! 🏆
Borg Avatar
August 21, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Dear Empress, I am amazed and dumbfounded at the depth of beauty of each line and each stanza of this poem. 'I am an island of love that is yours truly ~'
Hayward Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Stanzas 3 & 4 simply blew me away. The change in intensity and speed like a snap of the fingers. Like a song that suddenly picks up. This blew me away with its passion and intellectualism.
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Awn thank you so much, I am truly honored and humbled. I was listening to a melody when I wrote this ~ I appreciate your kind support sincerely Sending you light always ~ 🌙
Beaufort Avatar
August 14, 2026 at 6:57 AM
IE, I love how your poems reveal introspection. It's more than just a description of the natural world, but an insight into the fragility and sensitivity of our ego. We long to be who we are and receive acceptance at the same time. We also have vulnerabilities, which we hope any friend or lover will accept and smile about. So, why do I enjoy your poems so much? You emphasize forgiveness of our flaws (and don't we all have many?). You express such sweet longing...really incredible. Big smiles!!!
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:16 AM
You are right dear Duke, We are all flawed, no one is perfect. And forgiveness is necessary. I am so touches and moved by your comment! You are such a kind soul! Thank you so much always ~ Sending you light always 🌙 💫
Bordner Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:59 PM
To be alive in love today is all that matters, Life is only real while your heart beats, a synthesis of Past, Present, and Future, as the Mind is a synergy of perception, emotion and cognition...spontaneity - synchronicity - synthesis - divine creativity - nothing exist in chaos, and nothing lives in control. There is no chaos or control, only the eternal movement of love spirit. I am proud to be an Inspiration through your poetry Poetess...J.A.B.
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Dear Justin, I had to read your comment couple of times ~ now this, I am saying as someone who studied mind and emotions and how it all functions, your comment here shows such intellectual profoundness, that I cant help but recognize your knowledge on psychology… I might now have to change your label to Love therapist! I can see what love means to you! Thank you so much for being here ~ Your touch on my poems always are meaningful and soulful Sending you light always 🌹 ❤️ 💎 🧿
Rodgers Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Dear Empress, asking whether someone can love the scarred reality behind the romantic illusion is one of the most vulnerable questions a person can pose. We spend so much of our lives trying to tame the storm, manage expectations, or hide our burnout under a brave face. But what makes your poem thrive is how unfiltered it is about the fatigue, owning the apathy ("unintentional uninterestedness"), being "too tired to test the tides," and admitting to being a tangle of paradoxes ("the pursuer and the escaper / the possessor and the possessed"). Yes, a truth about what it actually means to let someone see us as we are. Gorgeous Faving work, Empress. Blessings, Daniel
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Dear Daniel Your comments are beautiful and soul warming. Thank you for explaining what my words mean here, and If i can also pin comments I will pin yours so readers can understand what my poem means Grateful for the fave too Sending you light always 🌙 💫 🦋
Kavanagh  Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Hey Ink, your sea maiden looks as fit today as she did 132 years ago when painted,🧜‍♀️ and you have reinvigorated her in this beautiful turbulent piece, with sensual and almost hallucinatory imagery. I like how the sea turns into a metaphor for desire, conflict and surrender, with the constant push and pull of opposites. There’s a lot going on here, I’m guessing that’s by design, and getting engrossed in the process, somehow it all washes ashore with that lovely final image “I am an island of love that is yours truly.” A beautiful Ekphrasis that never holds back, cheers David
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:24 AM
I am truly grateful and touched by your beautiful and encouraging comment dear David. You are right, there was so much happening in the art for me ~ so this poem sort of depicts that. You are an excellent soulful reader. Love the way you said “ ekphrasis that never holds back” thank you so much! Sending you light always 💫 🌙 🔮
Lane Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 4:49 AM
How generous and kind of you to mention my phrase. Merci! I love your “Take me as I am” stanza. Know the real me for who I am is who I will be. Circumnavigating the chaos makes it easier to land on the island of love. 💕
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Awwn linnersz, you deserve it, as you have a way with words honestly! Thank you for commenting and I am grateful for your presence ~ Sending you light always 💫 🌙
DiMino Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 4:26 AM
"Your eagle-plumed lips breathe: hold on to my angel-flying heart, bite the unbroken bone of my wing," -- Wow, great poetry! "perhaps too reluctant to romanticize anything that warms the sky besides the saffron of golden dawn?" -- We are all superficial by degrees...just some know it better than others. "We take what we can give, and give but what we can" -- "We were never meant to conquer the chaos, but to candidly claim the clemency of rippling pearl blooms…" -- Perfect!
Empress Avatar
August 17, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Thank you so much dear Jo, I am so grateful for your comment and for sharing not just your favorite lines but also your thoughts You always give my poems time without rushing And that really is something I am always grateful for Sending you light always 🌙 💫
Liguori Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 12:22 AM
This was an easy fave for me! I loved this: ‘ perhaps too reluctant to romanticize anything that warms the sky besides the saffron of golden dawn’. Some inspire you but you inspire many. Beautiful poem Ink.
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:38 AM
You are so very thoughtful dear Robert, I really appreciate your kindness, youv always been very supportive. And seems like my number one fan forever! Lol Its good to know I inspire many. You are right only my feelings inspire me ~ and few others, such as Glenn Hughes 😆 Sending you light always 🌙 💫
Onpaper Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM
to be free in your feverish flame..!! My feverish flame is your playground… fly little birdyyyy .. flyyyy… !!! leaving no note of music as darkness dissolves… I shall then shoot the it with the light of my chichangaaas 🌸🌸… the failure to seek the sun that hides when wakeful stars scintillate, aaah it’s ok … I’ll shine the light in ur eyes then ae .. no problem!👍… ! too reluctant to romanticize anything that warms the sky besides the saffron of golden dawn?The chichangaaaas will shoot straight in ur cerebellum aeee!!! ✨✨…! I am too tired to test the tides, mmm I am too torn to tease… 5 packs of hydrolytes n maybe alittle chocolate we good to go la !!! This piece is absolutely divine papi… as always u just know how to take my breathe away !!!
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Honestly you are too much hahahaha I need hibiscus mocktail yes lolol 👀😂
Onpaper Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Oh my chimichangas will shoot glistening highlight for u !!!! And everything else will be done to Perfection aeee !!! Yess huda blushes are really nice aee … I’ll sneek in a lil tart if u like .. but huda will be the main event 🪦♥️💋🍒
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Which one huda? Lolol 😂 i prefer tarte hahah but actually her blusher is good. 😂 gawshies! Dont forget highlighter and contour! Contour is very important! 🥲💋💋💋
Onpaper Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Yess … the unmovable lipstick for sure !!!! No noooo why not mascara!!! I wanna do the mascara n eyeliner aee… I’ll use the huda new line for blush … I gotchuuuuuuu !!! No problemoooo
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Good Lord, Bury me already ~ 😂 make sure you do my hair pretty before that, and you know exactly which lipstick shade to put ~ mascara not necessary! 🥹
Onpaper Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Ayeee papi… u have got my Chimichangasssss on a chokehold… ;P … they be shooting light for uuuu beyond the end of time papi!!! I will for ever and everrrrr flow fly float along ur side ❤️
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Papi you need help regarding changaaas 😂 😢 😭 ✌️ I will forever swim next to you 🧜‍♀️
Sharma  Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 10:34 PM
I think we're so cosmically connected, we wrote for the same prompt, the same time and the same day hahahaha! Yeaaaayyyy!!! Sending you mermaid moonbeams and siren starsssszz all the wayyyhhhh ~ hugssszzzzz dear poetic guardian angel 🧜‍♀️🧚‍♀️🌹❤️‍🔥💋
Empress Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Our comments are similar too! Haha! Mini -me you have become! Youv injected also my language of love! And speak so fluently! Haha 💋 🧜‍♀️ 🧚 🏝️ 🌹 💫
Sharma  Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 10:32 PM
"learning to normalize being the siren adrift amidst aquatic angst ~" What can I even say? My soul is being stirred again and again! The oceanic imagery, the evocative profoundness of your words and the depth.. how aching it is to feel like that, drifting amidst aquatic angst 🥀 And I absolutely LOVE everything about that ending, i would quite that entire part lol, goshhhh .. this is such poetry that leaves me spellbound and speechless and my soul jus craves for more 🔥 🔥 🔥
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 2:52 AM
You always feel me my angelic soulful star 💜 💋 🔥 🌹
Sharma  Avatar
August 12, 2026 at 10:29 PM
And island of loveee! Only for the beloveddd! 🥹🥹 This melts my aching heart sighhhh a big sigh.. this feels as if the ardent wish of the heart, to just let go of any chains of titles that whistle with the chaos and just drift freely as two souls, longing for each other.. meant for each other.. a love that feels so ancient and timeless, and can defy any force.. such poignancy in these lines! "bite the unbroken bone of my wing" that line i just can't get enough..and "the unavoidable ugliness of unintentional uninterestednes" i felt that deeply! And must I even mention the poetic eloquence that you've showcased there? 🌊🌊🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🔥
Empress Avatar
August 13, 2026 at 3:25 AM
Its the chronic emptiness🌊, from time to time, some of us feel, “ unintentional uninterestedness “ just being comfortable in darkness at times! Main emotion. Youv touched that! Thank you for doing so and feeling always my dear Hiya. I appreciate you Sending you light always 🙃 🦄🦋🥳
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