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Tell the Night to Hold Me

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I made for you, a castle
     But I built it in the sand
          I steadfastly tried to constrain the tide
               But the bastions didn't stand

I planned for you, an Eden
     With needs to see us through
          But the ripened fruits had corrupted roots
               And I fed them all to you 

          Tell the night to hold me
          I no longer have your arms
          I'll brood and swoon, cradled by the moon
          Still pining for your charms

          Tell the night to hold me
          June no longer follows May
          'Til the moonbeams, blue, drift me back to you
          I'll forget about you ... every day.

I dreamed for you, a family
     With two parts that acted one
          Yet my truth's demise only bred goodbyes
               Lucid of the tales I'd spun

I wished for you a future
     Ripe with jubilance and mirth
          Still I left recanted and took for granted
               The measure of its worth

          Tell the night to hold me
          I no longer swim your eyes
          Instead I stare into vacant air
          And count the countless why's

          Tell the night to hold me
          'Til Apollo's old and gray
          For until the stars are not mine, but OURS
          I'll forget about you ... every day.

I desired for you a partner
     Who would stand beside you, true
          Though that came to be, that man wasn't ME
               And it broke my heart in two

I promised you'd be happy
     And in ways, that's come to be
          Wed a man who's good - loves you as he should
               I just wish it had been me

          Tell the night to hold me
          It no longer heeds my will
          As I feared the most, I've become a ghost
          And I haven't tears to spill

          Tell the night to hold me
          For I've no more left to say
          Please remand what's just as I turn to dust
          And forget about you ...

Every day ...

          'Til I'm swept with wind, away.




Submitted on February 9, 2019
To the "Screwed XX" Poetry Contest
Rob Carmack, Judge & Sponsor.

* N/A'd in the "Heavenly Night" Poetry Contest, Vermillion Scythe, Judge & Sponsor, finalized on December 31, 2017. *

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Maureen McGreavy

Date: 2/13/2019 9:16:00 AM

Back with mo mo congrats <3 & hugs!

rob carmack

Date: 2/12/2019 10:37:00 PM

Thank you and congrats.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 2/12/2019 10:48:00 PM

Thank you - much appreciated.

Maxie Macdonald

Date: 1/31/2019 12:35:00 AM

Wow that is so beautiful. Very well written.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 1/31/2019 9:38:00 PM

Thank you very much, Maxie - much appreciated, my friend! :-)

John Hamilton

Date: 12/22/2018 2:27:00 PM

Never get tired of reading this beauty, it will win any contest you put it in, congrats again Greg! Don't ever leave ok?

Gregory R Barden
Date: 1/31/2019 9:05:00 PM

Thank you so much, my friend ... I renewed for another year, so I gotta get my money's worth, ha! :-)

DM Babbit

Date: 12/16/2018 11:52:00 AM

I got chills reading this, Beautifully written. Congrats on your win.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 5:52:00 PM

That's very kind of you, DM, and I'm glad you enjoyed my poem! :-)

Sunshine Smile

Date: 12/16/2018 11:46:00 AM

- Beautiful written :) - Congratulations on your 1st place in the contest, Gregory - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Gregory R Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 5:52:00 PM

Many kind thanks to you, Anne-Lise ... I greatly appreciate your kindness, my friend! :-) <3

Alexis Y.

Date: 12/16/2018 11:39:00 AM

Hi Greg, You are such a gifted and talented writer. This piece was no exception. The tile, the content and the repeated use of the title made an exceptional piece even better. Congratulations on your 1st place win, it was well deserved:-) Alexis

Gregory R Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 5:51:00 PM

Oh, you are so sweet, Alexis, and I thank you SO much for the kind and thoughtful comments ... I'm very happy that you liked my poem, and my writing in general! Blessings, Dear Poet! :-) <3

Silent One

Date: 12/16/2018 11:06:00 AM

Simply beautiful Gregory, sadly castles in the sand wash away though.. Congratulations on your first place in the contest..

Gregory R Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 5:48:00 PM

Thank you so much, Silent One, I'm very pleased that you found my poem worthy of such placement ... and you're right, they certainly DO wash away, which is why solid relationships are built on strong foundations of friendship and faith. Blessings, my friend! :-)

Jane Shields

Date: 9/10/2018 4:04:00 AM

Absolutely love this... x

Gregory R Barden
Date: 9/19/2018 6:51:00 AM

Many kind thanks, Jane, I greatly appreciate it! Blessings, friend! :-) <3

John Hamilton

Date: 8/19/2018 6:20:00 PM

Just reading this beauty for the 40th time so proud of you, over 3000 views, and still 21 out of top 100 all time, you deserve all the accolades, I'm so glad you are here Greg, don't ever think of leaving ok?

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/20/2018 2:55:00 AM

Thank you SO much, My Poet Brother, you are a big reason why I stayed here, and we will always have a bond because of that ... you are the master of Lyrics and a superb poet, and I am honored to call you my friend! Blessings and best wishes always! Drop me a Soupie sometime! :-)

Icah Wei Yan Rasay

Date: 8/8/2018 8:27:00 PM

Your piece is really beautiful, I really like how you talked 'bout love. Btw can I ask if I can use this for my students?

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/8/2018 8:45:00 PM

Thank you so much, Icah, I greatly appreciate the kind words! I would be honored if you'd use this with your students, if you can do me one favor in return - just let me know what they think of it overall, or what comments they make.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/8/2018 8:45:00 PM

I had a course taught around a poem of mine last year, (War Poetry, Bilkent U, Ankara, Turkey), and it was a joyous experience! (Feel free to "Soup Mail" me). Blessings!

Sandra Haight

Date: 7/23/2018 7:08:00 PM

Such an unbelievably beautiful Lyric, Greg, that really touched me deeply. Your talent is amazing! Congratulations on your very well-deserved top of the podium win! Sandra :)

Gregory R Barden
Date: 7/28/2018 8:09:00 PM

This is very kind of you, Sandra, and I'm so pleased you enjoyed this one - it is a fav of mine. Blessings, Dear Poet! :-) <3 ~ The Bard

Susan Gentry

Date: 7/21/2018 4:54:00 PM

Congratulations on your #1 win. Once again I'm in awe of your talent. :)

Gregory R Barden
Date: 7/28/2018 8:08:00 PM

You are too, too kind, Susan, but I so appreciate your kind words ... blessings, my friend! :-) <3 ~ The Bard

JAN ALLISON

Date: 7/21/2018 1:40:00 PM

I'm swept away by your awesome lyrics Greg, set this to music it would be a huge hit!:-) hugs jan xx

Gregory R Barden
Date: 7/28/2018 8:07:00 PM

Thank you very much, Jan, that may happen soon, as it turns out. Blessings, my friend! :-) <3 ~ The Bard

charles messina

Date: 7/21/2018 11:24:00 AM

Coming back to congratulate you on your well deserved gold metal win. A great write my dear friend!

Gregory R Barden
Date: 7/28/2018 8:07:00 PM

Many kind thanks to you, My Good Friend, and blessings to you and yours! :-) ~ The Bard

Line Gauthier

Date: 7/20/2018 11:01:00 AM

Wow - a well deserved gold medal among gold medal winners. Bravo, Gregory.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 7/20/2018 6:38:00 PM

Thank you so very much, Line, much appreciated! :-) <3

Karen DA

Date: 4/27/2018 10:17:00 AM

Oh, this one's very beautiful and cleverly written. Congratulations!

Gregory R Barden
Date: 4/27/2018 8:54:00 PM

Thank you so very much, Caren, I greatly appreciate the kind words, and I'm so pleased you enjoyed my poem! Blessings to you, friend! :-) <3

Date: 2/9/2018 1:41:00 PM

Hello, would you mind telling the theme of this poem ?

Gregory R Barden
Date: 2/9/2018 4:43:00 PM

The theme is whatever you get from it, (as with all poetry), but it was written in respect to lost love, and the inability to let go. Thanks for your inquiry. You have no name or avatar on your account, by the way.

Michael Trejo

Date: 9/28/2017 2:26:00 AM

this was amazing from start to finish, I loved every line and every rhyme, and I loved the emotion within it.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 9/28/2017 2:38:00 AM

Thanks so very much, Michael, I greatly appreciate the kind words, and I'm so pleased you liked it - it has become very special to me for many reasons. Blessings! :-)

Jannie Breedt

Date: 9/19/2017 3:08:00 PM

Greg, I am so proud of you. This cup and yet another established you was a fine poet of amazing talent. What strikes me about your work is the intense bravery and honesty that goes with the skill. This is such an emotive piece . It shatters the earth.if I had to compare it to a movie it would be Dr Zhivago. Congratulations my friend

Jannie Breedt
Date: 2/19/2019 4:40:00 AM

Hi Greg, you humdinger! Your .poem is on the best ever list. Im not back yet but Im always thinking of you.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 9/20/2017 3:11:00 AM

Jannie!! Oh, so great to get this comment from you today! I still owe you an email or two, and I hope things have improved. Thanks so much for these very kind words - if it hadn't been for your encouragement and kindness, I would not still be here at Poetry Soup, and you will always be a special friend. So pleased you liked this, Brother!

James Horn

Date: 8/18/2017 3:45:00 PM

With many feelings poem is filled; God to you this poem was willed Be thought of, With much love; Quiet at night and all was stilled. Jim Horn

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/21/2017 3:19:00 PM

Beautiful comment, James, and I thank you so very much for your kindness - blessings to you, my friend!

Adeyemi Joshua

Date: 8/16/2017 10:14:00 AM

Awesome piece and thanks for commenting on my poem....

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/16/2017 9:45:00 PM

Thank you so much, AJ, and my pleasure - I greatly enjoyed your work! Blessings to you, Friend! :-)

Jay Vee

Date: 8/6/2017 8:42:00 AM

Absloutly amazing piece. I don't have words to describe the beauty of your work. Congratulations on your well deserved win.

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/6/2017 4:13:00 PM

Thank you very much, Joseph, that means a great deal ... sometimes no words are the greatest compliment! Blessings!

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/5/2017 6:14:00 PM

Congratulations on your first placement Greg. It has been deservedly on the best new poems list at the top for some time now, so congrats on that achievement too!

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/5/2017 10:03:00 PM

Sincere, heart-felt thanks to you, my friend, that means a lot to me! And to have been in such worthy company I am both humbled and honored, and so happy to have found this wonderful community of such talented writers - it is one of the best on the web, because of folks like YOU! Blessings, Connie! <3

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/5/2017 10:03:00 PM

My time on the Best New Poem ist is over, (as it's now been a month), but it's still on the Top 100 list, and that's pretty cool! :-)

JAN ALLISON

Date: 8/5/2017 4:48:00 PM

Dropping back to say many Congratulations on your win Greg I loved this the first time in read it:-) hugs Jan xx

Gregory R Barden
Date: 8/5/2017 9:59:00 PM

You're very sweet, Jan, thank you so kindly ... I'm so pleased you enjoyed this! Blessings! <3 :-)