Laura Breidenthal Poet Free verse

To Lethe

Longing grips me-—
a familiar fire in contact
with parched debris—
spreading...

Your eyes glaze over 
and you turn away.

Within moments,
the last of my spirits 
have gone to Hades.

Ashamed, I turn over 
while tears trickle
into my pillow.

This new fire consumes me—
—it is a thought: I want you—
But surely I am unwanted...
and to Lethe, I escape.

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David Scott January 26, 2021 at 5:57 AM A sense of longing for sure what dose word lethe mean not heard ? Again another lovely write you rxspress your self well xx Laura Breidenthal January 27, 2021 at 11:56 AM Thank you for the sweet worde of encouragement, David. "Lethe" is an ancient Greek term, one of the five rivers in the Underworld of Hades. I believe some of the poets of the Romantic era reference Lethe in their works....Keats' "Ode to Melancholy" comes to mind. It's a sort of metaphor for oblivion or forgetfulness. ~Laura

Rob Levasseur January 15, 2021 at 8:22 AM Enjoyed this write. Laura Breidenthal January 15, 2021 at 2:06 PM Thanks so much for reading, Rob. Happy you enjoyed! <3 ~Laura

Justin Bordner January 14, 2021 at 9:40 AM If it's Iove...it can't be shame Laura...we can love our way...tears and giggles and all...there's a beautiful, personal quietude to this soft burning poem that I love...J.A.B. Laura Breidenthal January 15, 2021 at 1:25 AM Agreed, Justin. This poem is about the livid power of rejection - deathlike and dramatic as I tend to be. The words are soft but the feelings are loud. ~Laura