Gregory Richard Barden Poet Sapphic stanza

Notes About The Poem

Yesterday's Shadows

Hell-and-gone, my dreams are the bane of angels
          Crimped with light, yet ceded to swim in shadows
               Darkened wings that tremble with aching portent
     Yesterday's heaven

I'm the fool that wandered the Van Gogh grasses
          Just a jest, with love made there in the meadow
               Callow flesh, thus burning for more than sunlight
     Merging in madness

Bright and light, on toe-shoes a girl came dancing
          How she twirled, with tempo to set my heartbeats
               Dark desires through waterfalls and the moonlight
     Joined at the marrow

Life did cleave us, bound to a course its choosing
          Washed and swept by fates to a distant shoreline
               Breaths and death left nothing to us but distance
     Partings, unspoken

'Leave them gone', those angels now softly whisper
          Broken dreams are nightmares so left unspoken
               Turn your head to sight your eyes on the moment
     Wisdom's sweet burgeon.







~ 1st Place ~  in the "Sapphic Stanza With A Jux" Poetry Contest, Craig Cornish, Judge & Sponsor.

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John Hamilton March 5, 2019 at 1:35 PM When you win in a Craig Cornish contest.....that says a lot! Masterful Greg! Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:17 AM Many kind thanks, my poet brother, I so appreciate it! :-)

David Mohn February 14, 2019 at 8:21 PM This is truly stellar Greg...wonderful work! Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:15 AM Thank you very kindly, David, I greatly appreciate the wonderful words! Blessings, my friend! :-)

Paul Callus February 14, 2019 at 8:17 AM Your string of Sapphic stanzas, written with apparent ease, is indeed a worthy winning combination, Greg. Congratulations! ~ Regards // paul Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:14 AM That's very kind of you, Paul, and I so appreciate the wonderful comments, my friend! :-)

Rob Carmack February 13, 2019 at 6:55 PM Impressive, especially with five stanzas. Congrats on taking first place. Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:13 AM Thank you so very much, Rob, I so appreciate it, my friend! :-)

Kim Rodrigues February 13, 2019 at 1:20 PM The third verse is my favorite! Congratulations, Greg! Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:09 AM Many kind thanks, Kim, I so appreciate it - blessings! :-) <3 Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:09 AM And thank YOU, Nina! :-)

P.S. Awtry February 13, 2019 at 12:03 PM Wow! How have I missed this gorgeous piece. Again you made the form disappear and only poetry remains! Congratulations on your well deserved first-place honor!!! Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:08 AM Oh, that's so kind of you, PS, and I'm so thankful that you liked this one, my friend! Blessings! :-) <3

Craig Cornish February 13, 2019 at 10:01 AM It is truly a rare feat to write this well within the parameters of this form! Or any form for that matter. Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:07 AM Thank you SO much, Craig, I'm so happy with my placement, and so pleased to learn a new form - I love it! Blessings! :-)

Andrea Dietrich February 11, 2019 at 3:19 PM This is gorgeous writing as always, Greg.I kept reading it the way the meter should be and I believe it is all metered as it should be. i know in a few places of my own sapphic stanza, I was unsure. I think it's about the way WE listen to our own thoughts. For example, some might hear "best" in your last stanza with stress.but also I can hear it the other way if I let myself. I think this same thing happens with iambic pentameter. I struggle with this form, so i did not dare do more than ONE!!! Gregory Richard Barden March 22, 2019 at 2:07 AM I know what you mean - you can approach meter from different directions, and that has so much to do with perception of rhythm. I'm so happy you liked this one, Buddy, and I thank you so much! :-) <3

Harry Horsman February 11, 2019 at 4:11 AM Hi, Gregory thank you for your comment on my poem,,,,so glad to be able to read this wonderful classical poetry,,and no comments,,yes i'm surprised...but that's folk for you...it'll be interesting to see how Craig views this..His contests always attract great poems... Gregory Richard Barden February 11, 2019 at 4:33 AM Thank you so much, Harry, for your kind comments and for taking pity on me, lol ... I so appreciate it! Blessings, my friend! :-)