Home » Poems » Andrea Dietrich » Star-Crossed Soul Mates

Notes About The Poem

Inspired by a most beautiful and poetic movie I recently saw: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (on Hulu). The final scene can be viewed on the tanka underneath this poem. It is the most beautiful emotional ending I think I have ever seen to a movie.

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Star-Crossed Soul Mates

It was in a different era from today’s when two soul mates met -
a time when a single woman could afford no blemish on her reputation.
For them to meet in public would require a trusted friend to be their sentry,
for one of them was engaged to a man she wished not to wed.
Under the guise of an enterprise in the home of the one betrothed, they met!

Once having met, the two had fallen deeply in love,
for how can one turn one’s sight from the visage of astral skies
once seeing the brilliance of bright stars in one’s soul mate’s eyes?
How can one not long to see their adored ever again?
Though it may have been a pernicious thing to do,
they chanced one day to traverse a valley to be with one another,
for nothing could dampen their anticipation of that rendezvous.
Their time was but one week together, and then it was ended.

Years later, the one who had remained single
sat watching the face of the one who had been forced into marriage,
who sat on the opposite side of the balcony of a theater,
not knowing her lover watched her secretly from afar as she listened
to the melancholy strains of music coming from the orchestra.
It was the symphony of their love story, and as it played on, 
her eyes (two bright stars) wept beautifully sad tears. 

Nov. 5, 2020 for John Hamilton's 'Eight word challenge 11' Contest NA
For Brian Strand's the 'ALL YOURS (Feb 2)' Poetry Contest

lost loveprose

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John Hamilton

November 13, 2020 at 5:53 PM

Congrats Andrea on a nice story and placement. I marked it a little lower as I prefer free verse to be more poetic than prose, but enjoyed anyways.

Andrea Dietrich

November 13, 2020 at 6:48 PM

sorry, unfortunately I do not really get how to do free verse as often as I would like to!

JC Brul

November 13, 2020 at 4:18 PM

Back with congratulations dear Andrea.. Revisiting this poem gives another sublime experience..

Sam Kauffman

November 13, 2020 at 11:32 AM

So sadly romantic and melancholy, Andrea. Beautiful word blending as they entwine us in this sad story of unrequited love. Congratulations on your win!

Silent One

November 6, 2020 at 4:20 AM

You did the eight words in a very different way... Always enjoy your romantic writes...

Caren Krutsinger

November 6, 2020 at 1:34 AM

Ah, so beautifully penned. It does not seem in any way forced.

Victor Buhagiar

November 6, 2020 at 1:14 AM

You managed those words well enough. ~~

John Watt

November 5, 2020 at 9:50 PM

You must have really been moved by this film as this is the second poem I've read of yours that it inspired. A touchingly sad tale of unrequited love you have woven in free verse, with the 8 words seamlessly incorporated. Well done and best wishes.

Andrea Dietrich

November 6, 2020 at 7:59 AM

do you have hulu? you should watch this movie. The metaphors in it are amazing. if only Richard Perry could have done for Six Days of Sistine what the producer of this movie did with his characters for THIS movie!

JC Brul

November 5, 2020 at 9:28 PM

How beautiful..how sad!! You are a master of description...a love story in a poem ..You brought the feeling of reading a passionate novel with just few minutes. A fave for me...and a sure winner!

Andrea Dietrich

November 6, 2020 at 7:59 AM

Thanks, my friend.