Anne-Marie Coreggia Poet Free verse

Timeless Cave

Timeless Cave

Hidden deep out of time on a limestone cliff
its entrance for the ages concealed
paw prints of cave bears on soft clay ground
and smoke-stained walls it harbored

but deeper, still deeper, farther in time
earth’s ancient origins still beckon
for an artist his palm prints left and man’s    
greatest testament of eras bygone

panthers and cave lions on smoothed surfaces
lost voices from humanity’s past 
he painted in the torches light from us closing 
the distance and they all outlast

on cave walls, hyenas, and horses in flight 
immortalized remains vibrant echoes 
ringing through the millenniums 
a masterpiece there lies
in the midst of stalactites and stalagmites,
man’s original Sistine Chapel still rests in peace.

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Carole Duet November 20, 2018 at 5:24 PM What a lovely poem, Anne-Marie! You know whoever made that artwork on the cave walls probably never thought about people admiring his/her work thousands of years later. Amazing....

Funom Makama July 4, 2017 at 9:03 AM Oh my goodness! This is why I always miss your work when I stay away from this site for a while. Your choice of words and perfect blend of a cute message is beyond description. This is definitely good.. Anne-Marie Coreggia July 5, 2017 at 9:28 AM Thank you so much for your kind words Funom.

Agona Apell June 10, 2017 at 2:59 PM I feel myself transported on the wings of your verse to that "forbidden cave". Lovely piece! Anne-Marie Coreggia June 10, 2017 at 8:21 PM Thank you Agona, I am glad you felt that way. That cave is all the more fascinating to me that it was discovered really close to my mother's village. Agona Apell June 10, 2017 at 3:00 PM

Connie Marcum Wong May 31, 2017 at 1:09 AM This is a lovely tribute to the artists long forgotten except for their artistic endeavors. Beautifully penned Anne-Marie! I will have to settle for possibly seeing them on the history channel or Smithsonian or travel channel. The horses interest me most. Thank you for sharing the back story. Amazing! 7 ; ) Anne-Marie Coreggia May 31, 2017 at 7:23 AM Thank you so much Connie for your wonderful comments. I think the ice-age artist who painted these wild horses with such dynamism captured their essence and showed incredible talent.

James Inman May 27, 2017 at 5:40 AM Anne Marie, a fascinating write. Though not a true spelunker, I love caves and caverns. It sounds like your interest is more in the historical aspect of the caves where mine is more in the geology. I have visited caves in various states of the US as well as in Puerto Rico. Some of the more beautiful are in Virginia, in particular, Luray Caverns (very commercial, though). Anne-Marie Coreggia May 28, 2017 at 7:23 AM Wow, I just checked online and Luray Caverns seem incredible beautiful. When the unbearable humid and stifling summer months are upon us, I don't mind at all visiting wonderful caves, even commercialized.

Maria Williams May 25, 2017 at 5:58 AM Your poem is a credit to these mysterious sounding caves Anne-Marie. A Prehistoric Sistine Chapel, going back 32,000 years Wow!! Will have to settle for seeing the replica then.....A7+ Maria Anne-Marie Coreggia May 25, 2017 at 7:13 AM Merci Maria, I'm afraid I will settle, but I'll also be roaming the mountains in search of another possible forgotten cave too, 'cause I'm an impossible dreamer:)

Mpho Kgaswane May 25, 2017 at 4:17 AM Hi Anne-Marie, This is a beautiful poem and it stimulates one's imagination as it takes you back. Interesting picture too. Regards. Mpho Kgaswane. Anne-Marie Coreggia May 25, 2017 at 7:10 AM Thank you Mpho, that's why I love these paintings so much.

Pashang Salehi May 25, 2017 at 2:35 AM The Lascaux caves ..... are magnificent. I 've been there... you should do it too Anne-Marie Coreggia May 25, 2017 at 7:06 AM Believe me, the next time I go back home, I'll be visiting original caves or their replicas, when the original is not open to the public:)

Lenna Walker May 24, 2017 at 11:30 AM A wonderful tribute to "ancient caves". Very artistically portrayed Anne-Marie. I have always thought exploring ancient caves would be an awesome adventure ! Well done :) Anne-Marie Coreggia May 24, 2017 at 11:39 AM Thank you for your wonderful comments Lenna. Some of these caves are now closed to the public to preserve them, but I would still love to see the replicas.

Paul Callus May 23, 2017 at 2:40 PM Your poem does credit to this timeless cave, Anne-Marie. I also found the notes very interesting. I hope I'll be able to locate Herzog's film. Regards // paul Anne-Marie Coreggia May 23, 2017 at 4:31 PM Thanks, Paul. Herzog's documentary was really interesting and even fascinating at times, but then I am a fan of his:)

Andrea Dietrich May 22, 2017 at 6:35 PM wow, man's "original Sistine Chapel" That was such a cool phrase for it, Anne-Marie. GREAT job with this one. Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 10:43 PM Thank you Andrea, but honestly, it's been called a 'prehistoric Sistine Chapel' along with the Lascaux and Altamira caves before, so I can't claim much creativity there:)

Lisa Ricci May 22, 2017 at 2:25 PM Hi Anne-Marie. What you delivered to us is marvelous. Honestly in all ways poetically artistry knowledge etc. You also deliver all things matter and are of worth. Have a wonderful night. PS: I do love horses... Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 6:26 PM Thank you for your 'come back' Lisa and your generous comments. You and my oldest daughter seem to be true incorrigible horse-lovers, and I believe a similar spirit animated the artist who painted these horses in the spectacular 'Horse panel' as animates you, because he clearly managed to evoke their movement and to me, gave them a three-dimensional quality.

Carole Duet May 22, 2017 at 1:55 PM What a wonderful testimony to a "Timeless Cave". That would be so exciting to see and I think your poem really uplifts the imagery therein. Amazing indeed! I'm so glad I found this poem of yours which clearly belongs in my FAVS. Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 6:16 PM Thank you so very much for your wonderful comments Carole. I know I can never go inside the real cave but I heard that, in the stunning reproduction they made, they enlisted the help of countless artists and came up with an awe-inspiring replica. Can't wait to see it.

Darren White May 22, 2017 at 1:32 PM Absolutely beautiful. I have seen and read about the caves, not seen them. Your poem is absolutely beautiful. Very good, and a 7 from me :) Darren White May 23, 2017 at 12:41 AM While I lived in the Languedoc (and could still walk) I have seen many caves. To be honest.... I have fear of heights :D but oh I would have loved to see the paintings! Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 6:12 PM I am glad you like it so much Darren. The Lot and the Dordogne also have beautiful caves which you can visit w/out having recourse to a 'duplicate' like w/ Lascaux and Chauvet so, the next time I go back home, I'll be taking a few interesting detours before making it to Lyon. Wish I could take you along Penguin! Hope you feel better and you are back to sitting.

Tim Smith May 22, 2017 at 12:49 PM I saw a film on Altamira last month, it is so interesting and amazing. A tremendous poem Anne-Marie Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 1:07 PM Thank you Tim, I also saw an 'Altamira' movie last month with Antonio Banderas but I found the documentary from Werner Herzog more fascinating.

Eve Roper May 22, 2017 at 12:22 PM Anne-Marie, love your poem. I wrote one a while back but calling the pictures sign language at their time. Thank you so very much for reading my poem and the congratulations I’m honored ~* Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 12:31 PM Thanks, Eve, I'm gonna look it up but now, your poem: "radiant glow of pink . . . poetic strokes of emotions", it was pure brilliance and so uplifting:)

Chris Green May 22, 2017 at 10:28 AM A wonderful poem Anne Marie that to me is filled with not only beauty but mystery. I have this ongoing fantasy about finding something like this, stumbling upon something that was created many, many years ago. I believe that there is still much out there to discover and I just hope someday I am the one who discovers something. Your poem is wonderfully written and really brings the scene into play nicely. And who knows, maybe some of the painting on the wall were considered poetry back then. :) Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 12:02 PM My thoughts exactly Chris. I couldn't believe that this was discovered a mere forty miles from my mom's village and I can't help but think what an incredible excitement it would have been as a kid, roaming the Ardèche mountains, if we would have stumbled upon such poetry in motion. Maybe there are other caves around this area sealed like this one by a collapsing cliff thousands of years ago:)

Lisa Ricci May 22, 2017 at 10:26 AM Good Morning Anne-Marie. And what a beautiful painting it is. The attached image that you share. Your words in your entry Anne-Marie brought the cave open to light and open to enter its realm. Yes, your appreciation for art and beauty is apparent here within your entry. Thank you as always for sharing and for educating. Well done entirely. PS: how I adore the concept and thought of the horse. Have a great day. Anne-Marie Coreggia May 22, 2017 at 12:43 PM Rebonjour Lisa, I just realized my initial comment to you has disappeared . . . I was thanking you for your generous comments and wanted you to know that, even though I was struck to find out that there were cave lions, hyenas, and panthers depicted on the cave walls I chose the picture of the horses because the artist, like you my friend, seemed to have a love affair with the horse:)