The birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli

if flowers write about love storms
and the moon obeys the heart’s blaze
would you, O Dawn’s King
become my forever flame ~
the wild-blue fire,
finger-locking our besotted souls…
aching obsessively to taste
the sacred warmth
from the Asclepius arms
of Cephisesus’ spring river
ricocheting and reflecting
the burning desire we breathe…

and I listen ~ in amatory silence,
to your voiced whispers
the slow, soft velour laughter
as you caress my sky
with poetic phrases ~
igniting this ink to release
blooms spooned with fervent sighs
lines linear against 
the hysterical history
of hurt without healing…

but if only the petals
   floating and 
        frolicking in the wind
could empathize
with how my lips thirst
with flares of jealous heat ~
wanting desperately
to be the trembling skin
the only zephyr
that touches your smooth silk fever…

O pursuer of pressed passion 
my reason to remain alive
relinquish into the orchard
of rooted, clandestine utopia,
where I savor the luscious liqueur
spilling from the titillating tips
    of scribbled Shizuka ~

kiss me when the sun sleeps
feel me when the Venus stars awake
dress me in dancing darkness.
I will be the violet spark
to your electromagnetic light…
take me beyond time
eviscerate the 
evil threads of illusion
unchain the steel of
our imprisoned pages,
let the words flow as one..
for my heartbeat now
is the sober mirror to your pulse
nevermore remembering
the final glimpse 
 of an irreversible ending…

** inspired by the artwork The birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli ~
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

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Edmonds  Avatar
July 24, 2026 at 4:34 PM
A wonderful Ekphrasis poem Ink on the painting ‘The birth of Venus’ you say it so well… Beryl
Rodgers Avatar
July 24, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Dear Empress, what a captivating, almost dizzying intensity. What strikes me first is how you take Botticelli’s canvas, so often remembered for its cool, serene, classic grace, and utterly set it ablaze. A sanctuary, a secret orchard where two people can unchain their "imprisoned pages" and rewrite their story into something whole, timeless, and unbroken. It leaves me with the feeling of standing on a shoreline right as the storm breaks: breathless, a little exposed, but completely enraptured by the Fav light. Blessings, Daniel
Kendrick Avatar
July 17, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Back with congratulations to you. Way to go. Sara K.
Rodrigues Avatar
July 17, 2026 at 5:27 AM
igniting this ink to release blooms spooned with fervent sighs… wanting desperately to be the trembling skin the only zephyr… you took off with this artwork, feeling its essence. Congrats, dear poet!
Gibbons Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Wow Ink this flows deep from your heart n soul. Your words, expressing the painting sets my heart ablaze in the Glory of your poetic masterpiece. You sure write explosive creations with your Ink. Sheer genius you are dear Ink. I so wish I had a gift of painting you know why? Id paint every single poem you've ever written. Applauding you a fav for sure to be sure hugs <3 I'm so glad im getting to know you here.
Dietrich Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Your poem here is so sensual and emotive along with being incredibly descriptive as usual. Wow. You really know how to do Ekphrasis. That painting title sounds familiar to me. You should show it here!
Liguori Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 1:08 PM
I would trade a Shakespeare play any day to read your poetry. Again… pure delight. This poem isn’t given justice without a trophy next to it… so you can be the ‘violet spark’ you are.
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Lolol, you are funny haha well dear Robert, trophies don’t come in violet, its ok. Sometimes, some things are better than trophies ~ like releasing true feelings. May the universe manifest love for all. Thank you so much for skipping “Shakey” for me! That’s a massive compliment. Sending you light, always ~
Bordner Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Continued..."How my lips thirst with flares of jealous heat..." superp sensuality Poetess. "The zephyr touching your smooth silk fever..." pure beauty. The final Verse, a love moral unbreakable, how true love awakens the truth in one's heart, powerful, " My heartbeat now is the sober mirror to your pulse..." that's commitment to excellence Poetess...J.A.B.
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Can commitment ever become too extreme? If so, I must confess, I’m probably guilty. ~ Thank you so much again, dear Justin. I appreciate being heard. Sending you warmth and light today and always.
Bordner Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Continued...I love seeing you so Inspired Ink Empress...because you Inspire like none other I know. You are special. I noticed that you've incorporated the beautiful prompt from your own ongoing Contest. "Kiss me when the sun sleeps..." you are the Empress of romance. That 1st Verse is divine! The vibe, the colors, tatste and textures, vivid spirit of love imagery reflecting on the river, it's everything true poetry should be. "Amatory silence...velour laghter" wow!
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Awwn ~ I am so touched and overwhelmed by this heartening comment, I love the thought of inspiring master poets, like you, that means alot, and you just quoted some of my most personally fave word pairings too here. You are a deep feeler. Thank you dear Justin ~
Bordner Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Your heart is so open, a poem, love strengthened Poetess, the words soulfully wise, the cadence thread with notes of paradise, alliteration alive with honest affection, imagery immaculate in the eyes of romance, metaphors merry making in the meadows of innocent kisses...You are alive like love forever young...this is a truly glorious composition...J.A.B.
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Your comments, dear Justin, are as profound as your poetry, how you compliment is so breathtakingly beautiful! " love forever young" sounds like love forever burning deep, that sounds deep! Thank you for taking time to absorb everything ~ appreciate your warm presence always ~
Goldsmith Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:24 AM
I  enjoyed reading your creative write for this artwork. "Good Luck" if for a contest. Have a lovely day/week writing away............
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Thank you so much dear Paula. It is not written for any contest ~ but maybe In the future might enter it into a contest. Appreciate your support always ~
Crandall Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Cool to read this great, passionate take on the famous painting, and to see where "kiss me when the sun sleeps" comes from. Another great line "finger-locking our besotted souls"
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Awn thank you dear David, always an honor to hear from you ~ yes I do that often use my own prompts in poems, cus my prompts are lines that keep echoing in my mind and in my lovesick heart… thank you so much for supporting me. Sending you light always ~
Lane Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 8:21 AM
There’s the wildflower who writes of the moon obeying the heart when the need arises, or should I say ‘arouses?’ The head obeys the heart since it’s given little choice. Your themed phrase of ‘kiss me when the sun sleeps’ is perfectly placed. The violet spark shines bright.
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:22 AM
You can feel my wild pulse linnersz ;) i like how you played with “ arises” and “ arouses” there, now thats a linguistic expert, here commenting, and I must say I am alive reading this beautiful response. I am so glad the violet spark reached your soul. Thank you so much for supporting me and for reading me today ~ sending you breezy light always
Sharma  Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 7:44 AM
And the ending is just beyond meaningfully done.. i always admire that about your poems, the opening and the ending lines are just a slice of heaven.. so beautiful and I don't have enough words to praise! My dear ink! "take me beyond time eviscerate the evil threads of illusion unchain the steel of our imprisoned pages," feel that! And I too wish that! How moving.. absolutely loved reading this piece of art.. and it's going straight in my faces.. sending you love and light always
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Awwn thank you for your very detailed comment, it means alot that you took time to read ~ feel and leave such an uplifting comment that makes me feel heard. Grateful dear Hiya. Sending you light always
Sharma  Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Oh this is so so so beautiful! I just looked up at the art and how you've created your own beautiful painting with such breathtaking descriptions and imagery.. I'm awestruck ~ "if flowers write about love storms and the moon obeys the heart’s blaze" that opening really made me feel the tenderness, how gorgeous are your words choices and truly evocative everything is?..."as you caress my sky with poetic phrases ~" love that so much.. I want to live in this poem lol. Absolutely ethereal in so many ways.. the first two mythological references I never heard of it before, will have to look those up.. and this "where I savor the luscious liqueur spilling from the titillating tips of scribbled Shizuka ~" oh touched my soul! It's so enticing and elegant..
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Hah you always notice everything, yes it is something, Iv never used in a poem before, the mythology youv noticed here. You might be fascinated if you google it ~ please have a look. Thank you so much for your warm presence, im touched! Sending you light today and always
Kendrick Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Creative way to go for the contest. Interesting artwork chosen. I think I have seen this one before somewhere. I appreciate you sharing it with us. Way to go. Sara K.
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Awwn thank you for appreciating dear sara. Sending you light always
Onpaper Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 5:17 AM
flowers write about love storms and the moon obeys the heart’s blaze would you, O Dawn’s King become my forever flame … screw the king papi!!! I gotchuuu!!!! Umma be here blazing brighter everyday aeee !! you caress my sky with poetic phrases …I try aeee … igniting this ink to release blooms spooned with fervent sighs… yeasssyesss I long for those sighs papi!!! Such melodies to my ear!!! where I savor the luscious liqueur spilling from the titillating tips.. ooo titillationsss r wondering coming from u aee !!! That gave me tinglingssss .. kiss me when the sun sleeps.. sun , moon , storm, stars … everyone sleep or not … I’ll kiss aeee .,. Let u be in kissing distance! nevermore remembering the final glimpse of an irreversible ending…ooo the smooth ending .. absolutely gorgeous papi!
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Papi haha you are just too funny! I am rolling ~ lolol :O
DiMino Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 4:26 AM
"if flowers write about love storms and the moon obeys the heart’s blaze would you, O Dawn’s King become my forever flame ~ " -- Such a wonderful stage you have set here. Great beginning. "igniting this ink to release blooms spooned with fervent sighs" -- Precious phrase. Love it! "the only zephyr that touches your smooth silk fever…" -- Wow. Great stuff. "dress me in dancing darkness. I will be the violet spark" -- Beautiful poetry!
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Thank you so much dear Joe for reading and feeling, its always a pleasure to see you in comments ~ sending you light always
Cunningham Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Your appreciation and love of art always shines through in your detailed verses IE. This is another stunning interpretation of the painting (I had to look it up). Hope your week ahead is a pleasant one. Tom
Empress Avatar
July 13, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Thank you so much for finding the painting and for reading and supporting my poem dear Tom. It truly means alot to me ~ I appreciate your kindness always, sending you light today and always
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