Best Lingering Poems
'Neath nocturnal bloom
the essence of self
dwindles in a pillowed horizon
twilight dies a whisper -
your voice in my ear…
the pale goddess rises
mothering angel’s tears
tending till dawn
a moon garden vigil
bearing witness to your visit
Lingering within
It sits upon my widow sill,
after all of this time,
the Magnolia bloom you sent
Wilted and shriveled,
once the purest white -
now browned with age
Yet what it is,
is just as beautiful
as what it was
We all age, change
collecting wrinkles and new colors
staring in the mirror
wondering, where did we go
how could this happen
it was just yesterday we were – young, beautiful
Though as I tenderly hold, lift
this flower I know
it still retains
a hint of fragrance,
that sweet aroma of love,
the essence of that day
and its loveliness remains
as if time has no meaning
We need not look any further
than this alluring scent
to know that a bloom
will forever be as beautiful
as every yesterday
it was shared
You are beautiful -
we are all beautiful
regardless of how time
has wilted us -
Open your eyes,
find the fragrance
lingering within
yourself
12/26/16
Written for the Beauty in Disguise Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Julia Ward
Lift your eyes and gaze upon this flower
who worships you with her heart on display
A bud on trellis, twined in your tower
now opens her fragile bloom for you today
If you would pluck me from my vine tonight
it would bring blush to petals crimson red
What joy if my fragrance, in pale moonlight
gives cause for you to place me on your bed
Tis there I shall wither until my death
content to die pillowed so near to you
Lingering in desire of your next breath
more thirsty am I for love than for dew
Dream of the flower who for love has died
Life surrendered for a night at your side
Autumn doesn't mind if summer lingers for a while
Summer doesn't mind if spring lingers longer with her smile
But Spring does mind when winter stays too long
When her time comes she wants to bloom with joyful song
So on the first day of spring
Winter was still hanging around
Spring was not happy with his lingering
As snow was still on the ground
"Why do you do this" asked spring
Winter replied " I need more time"
Spring retorted, "but you are not king
"Leave now and let my blooms chime"
But winter, being mean
Stuck around a couple weeks more
When he finally left the scene
Blooms rose up all around for all to adore!
A scarlet sun bleeds onto a pink sky,
behind branches of a majestic oak.
And shadows ink its leaves in silhouette,
as lonely crickets chirp; and bullfrogs croak.
I hear the treetops swaying in the breeze;
and a brook, babbling, with a southern drawl.
But they're lost to the quiet of the night;
as time slows to a perceptible crawl.
When adventurous moths take to the air,
acrobatic bats hunt them down mid-flight.
And as darkness descends like a curtain,
twilight acquiesces to the night's might.
A quicksilver moon pools amidst the clouds;
dripping drops of sunlight onto the lake.
And all the cosmos begins to glitter;
as billions of sleeping stars slowly wake.
A lone owl's haunting hoot empowers dusk,
to extinguish the last lingering light.
And diurnal animals go to sleep,
as Nature silently whispers goodnight.
I saw you across the room
and I knew I shouldn't stay
but then you walked up to me and said,
"How've you been?" I couldn't walk away.
I can't find the right words to say.
You etched the scars inside of me
Can't risk opening the wounds again
but from loving you, I'll never be free
Lingering, why are we apart
Lingering, you broke my heart
Lingering, should we make a new start - tonight
The look in your eyes tells me you still care
Now what am I supposed to do
My heart refuses to play fair
I love you but I thought we were through
I want your arms to hold me
I want you to love me tonight
I remember sweet kisses
This time we might get it right
Lingering, why are we apart
Lingering, you broke my heart
Lingering, should we make a new start - tonight
I won't fall so fast into your embrace
My heart can't take losing love again
If you tell me no, I'll just turn and go
I'm too weak to stand here and pretend.
When you smile at me that way
I'm willing to give us another try
but if it's not what you want, too
once again, we'll be saying goodbye.
Lingering, why are we apart
Lingering, you broke my heart
Lingering, should we make a new start - tonight
The lights have fallen
to nightbreak.
There, on the sharp horizon.
Cracked open.
Leaching
pastel peach...
(Or is it apricot?)
...into the dimming blue.
The moon,
two stars -
aligned,
in a line.
Three drops of rain;
frozen in their falling.
An overnight shower,
lasting longer than it did...
By the tiny grace
of an unseen spider;
her webwork
holding these three,
three pieces of rain -
up to the fading moonlight
as dawn conspires to interfere
with the colors she is daily born in.
The white brings blue.
The day brings night.
The night brings dew.
I long for you.
In the long days,
in the longer nights.
In the dark,
in the light.
If I’m lucky,
in my ache,
I’ll be suspended
for a moment more.
Between heaven.
Between earth.
Consumed by starlight.
Embracing dark, forestalling dawn.
Awash in moonlight.
Lonely looking sky...
Eerie whispers in the night.
Dread fills the air with a chilling fright.
Ghosts of the past they take their toll.
Apparitions that haunt this lost, lonely soul.
Raven's justice in flight cries out a mournful plea:
"All Hallows' Eve, All Hallows Eve, the spirits are free!"
Lingering all souls as they haunt the shadows.
Lamenting over and over in a spectral tone.
A chilling wind silently twirled the leaves
Night descends on, Yes, All Hallows' Eve.
Piercing the silence an owl's hooting call
Ominous chill courses crackling through the hall.
Echoes of Poe linger as the day dissolves.
Neither mad dogs nor Englishmen
rejoice as sunlight growing thin
allows the tidal sands to shift
through moonlight’s vapor growing dim
Yet still the beasts of lolling tongue
huddle with their shaded young
beneath a cloak of crimson red
abandoned nests now left unsung
Whilst I enjoyed this mingled tryst
as lovers passing gently kissed
and danced beneath a smiling sun
embracing moments others missed
Soft rustling limply humid leaves
deny the creep of autumn’s thieves
grey squirrels stalking acorn fields
from high upon a church apse eaves
School children race through tanning grass
rejoicing in their sunset dash
pursuing dusk into the dark
as dog day’s breath goes panting past
©9/3/2018
for The Dog Days Endure Poetry Contest
A breathtaking moment unfolds,
like a beautiful incredible tableau
I am lingering still,
just reminiscing about love
. . And the first thing you notice will never be,
the moon's glitter placing me in a spotlight,
or even the waves dancing wildly with glee
It will always be . .
The way I captivated your heart
~~~~~~~~~~
- Do you feel the fluttering of mine? -
~
The October sky
is silent this night as my
warmest thoughts linger
beneath its pastel canopy
of leaves gently falling,
creating a tapestry
on the chilly ground
~
It is then that I see
a crescent moon smiling
happily above the
autumn horizon and
its expression tells me
it must be thinking about
the same thing I am…
you
~
I've no need to steal starlight's golden glow
for I see light in the jade intensity...
the brilliant sparks in your looks to know
the penchant propensity of love
burning brightly in your green eyes
How deeply I feel your tenderness
in every lingering affectionate touch
Are you aware of what your allure
does to me each time you are near?
When you cup my face in your hands,
have you an inkling, my love
of the tears I try not to cry,
knowing that you're mine?
I hear the moans you cannot conceal,
the groans when your arms surround me.
I long for your enamored embraces
and the way they make me feel
when you trace me with your sighs
I shiver when your lips sweep across mine,
fanning flames of my want and desire
They would put a wildfire's blaze to shame
Each time you whisper my name,
you claim another piece of my heart
Thunder strums in my head
and in that moment, all I dread
is the thought of you turning away
I would yearn to rekindle the embers...
to warm the chill that entered your heart
if you were to say we've drifted apart
As the rising tide washes sea upon sand,
you wipe away my tears
Stride for stride and hand in hand
you walk with me, forever at my side
in luminous light and in reverie
Trace me with your sighs...
lovingly
passionately
unforgettably...
touch every part of me
so that I may cling to traces of you
~ Aura ~
Surrounds the place
Where a wedding was blessed
Two souls shared their vows and their hearts
A long life, joined dreams, love beyond measure
Their presence lingers though their gone
Magic of love prevails
Glowing brightly
~ aura ~
Visual 1
Just Nine Lines contest
05/09/2013
Cecilia Macfarlane
Silent moments together that Creates passionate desire.
Feeling the closeness of nature that bloomed on face of the one we admire,
creating warmth that ignites into a burning fire, giving feelings that takes us
to the seven heavens or even higher...
Gazing in nature marvel as our eyes met each other so profound that
we immediately drowned into each other's gaze. Holding each other there,
and no use for words to say, as we exchange a visible frisson in lingering glance.
Bodies so close while we shared a romantic dance, a sensation like a hypnotic trance,
Then our heart takes over and emotions conquered the rest searching for comfort,
I rest my head upon his chest. Feeling the pounding of his heart that beats only love for me
Accepting the gift of love that overflows the hearts. Awaken flame
which makes no other pleasure feels the same. A complete satisfaction of wholeness
That goes beyond physical attraction to a deeper commitment.
Call it chance or fate that we met,
a night we will never forget.
Not looking for affection, but we felt an immediate connection.
In a room of online scrabble, we made small talk of babble.
Another game soon took place, without seeing the other's face.
Three years spent on the phone, couldn't leave each other alone.
Words of love had been said, flames of passion had been fed.
It was long past time to meet, but would it be bitter or sweet?
At last I knew the taste of your lips, the warmth of your fingertips.
I felt the beat of your heart, and nothing could keep us apart.
Cradled in your arms all night, we fit together and it felt right.
Unlike anything I ever knew. I couldn't get close enough to you.
You slept and I was content. I sighed from breathing in your scent.
I kissed your cheek, you didn't wake, lingering for love's sake.
Morning woke us with the sun, both knowing that what we'd done
confirmed what we already knew. We shared a love long overdue.
Internal rhyme pattern
December 11th 2015
Favorite Love Poem
Sponsor: Nayda