At dusk when my shadows quit me,
That’s when hundred arrows hit me.
So far some faceless folks fooled me,
My own close to heart now cheat me.
A feeling heart hails thee, my friend,
Come heart to heart, why audit me?
Come, pry unto my nightlong dreams,
Thence, for what I say credit me.
Dawn dawns, if dream deprived I wake,
Daylong your reveries greet me.
_____________________
Ghazal |18.07.2025| dream, passion, sleep,
I picture mind as an immense seaside,
Thoughts as random waves soon to fade away
As does a rising and receding tide,
Like weeds, what they leave survive welcome stay.
At times there endures sepulchral silence
That looks a soul-less stage flooded with blight,
A rain-washed seashore in deep penitence,
Deserted, and robbed of daylong delight.
And yet, should mind a dancer be on stage,
Real I the Self, a witness, dumb and deaf--
All knowing, still a deadbeat silent sage
For whom faith’s spelt with a capital F,
Ego directs, mind a dancer on stage,
And life’s drama unfolding, page by page.
___________________________________
Sonnet (musings) | 04.01.2011 | Self/soul
The rye mustard field, glowing with a morning diva, faded in colors within afternoon
The river runs just beside ;
“O reverie! What shall the song be in the chanting verse, unsung in me and thee!”
The branches of the oak tree , trace upon chest of yours, whence
The tree shade adores you in blue
Patsy sounds in farther and farther a try, follow through
These for having an echo in those stalking sounds, whence together , sounds cry
Was there ever a river meandering nearby?
“O reverie! What shall the song be in the chanting verse, unsung in me and thee!”
You , my soulmate, a fall to befall in shape, mine to undermine
The farther I run away to shy - you trace me back there with your toddler efforts to intertwine
I hear your foamy shore, sounds of me with my child, daylong, a silly whim to be around awhile
Enchantance overflowing with eloquence (seemingly so)
Eloquence and ongoing eloquence never a bit tiresome
This very river
A flock of fishes rainbow colors on the river chest
The herd of flamingo , white lilies the remotest oasis around the deepest river basin
Men did not intervene, as these, are never to be seen.
Turn to me, ohh ! Little ONE
Turn to me,
If loving you is a crime
So let US be the murderS that killed time In just a matter of seconds.
you whom i would behold till the dawn of time!
Allow me to languish in your beauty unseen,
let me alone bath in your impurities,
and be filled by your glorious scent,
Feed me with all that there is,
the forbidden fruit of passion,
the mixture of bitter, sour and sweet,
The deity that you are! from whence love floweth,
a wonder to be beholden, a prophecy to be foretold and a danger to be warned of!
How can man survive your absence?and what more of your presence!
Night long, daylong, you are thought of,
seconds are but a day's journey in my thoughts,
@H2O
Oh "the silent song of the sighing breeze"_
and melody of the birds chirping song,
the gentle swaying of the forest's trees;
sounds that mingle and twine . . . the whole daylong !
I come upon some wildflowers growing,
fragile blooms in yellow, purple and blue;
all the while that sighing breeze is blowing,
sighing, sighing- though still fragile . . . begin life new !
So, let go of the past sorrow and grief,
embrace the beauty of nature for peace;
let emotions fall like a tree's dead leaf,
the treasure you find . . . is God's great masterpiece !
Almost evening.
The smell of seaweed hanging
on whispers coming up from the beach.
I sit in the backyard, rearranging thoughts,
trying to fit shapes into what's missing
in that vast mosaic I have been piecing
together all my life. The last blush
of the sun fading from the sky, the day
dimming like a picture theater
before the film begins.
I think of the Alberton Odeon matinees,
back stall seats on Saturday afternoons
with wall to wall westerns galloping across
childhood to deafening cheers and stamping feet.
From Hoppalong to Roy, a generation
breathed the smoke from six shooters
blasting out in the black and white world
of cowboys and trusty steeds.
Heroes stood out for their good deeds,
the bad deserving of the bullet
that always found their evil hearts
without the spill of blood. Death was clean,
no more than a crumpled fall,
hands clutching an invisible wound.
The gore was kept off screen. Boyhood
backyards became extensions of motion
picture sets.
I come back. Shadows have swelled
into a thick dark. Awoken from their
daylong sleep, mosquitoes circle my head
like thought clouds in search of blood.
Enter the pack
With a slap to the back
To the heart of a commonplace place
Leave the charade
Of your daylong crusade
Here’s the end of the common man’s race
Belly the bar!
You won’t have to look far
For the whistle-whet bright hospitality
Of the bonding of men
As they gather again
To the tipping of top fermentality
When it’s time to go home
You won’t go home alone
For the spirits will fall in behind you
To put you to bed
With a knock on the head …
As the morning will amply remind you!
A direct sequel to my poem, Abeyance. Linked at the end
Danna O Menel Palan-Diriel
(Fall From Heaven Gazing Far)
My tattered wings are gone,
And falling from their gaze,
I listen to the skies;
Ablaze without a glow.
Instead of promise brought,
Or holy message sought,
They speak my tarnished name.
Oh, eyes of starry night,
What do you want with me?
Alight in darkest flames,
The stars unveil their love,
Through scorching skies above.
But gladden days are naught;
My drive is failing now.
And though it hurt me so,
My vows have saved their souls;
I couldn’t save my own.
I cannot now atone.
Oh, eyes of starry night,
My weapon is a song,
A broken melody,
Daylong in whispered length,
But shattered is my lyre;
Extinguished soul-fire.
And falling through the air
Ablaze with holy flame,
With broken song in hand,
My name you speak again,
Though I have failed to save
Myself- to grind, a slave.
I relish in the pain,
For me, you have forgave.
Abeyance: https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/abeyance_1435733
Thankful Hearts
For all blessings God gave to you and me
Be ever thankful for all that we see . . . . . . .
Glorious blue sky and sun shining bright
Clouds drifting by, fluffy carpets of white
Moon the illuminating cosmic eye
Surrounded by diamond star strewn sky.
Rise and fall of oceanic motion
Astounding scene of waves in commotion
Sea life creatures, some that have not been seen
That’ve role play in ocean aquamarine.
Stupendous flowers and magical trees
Fruit of vineyards and sweet honey from bees
The fields of gold where the barley grain grows
All the nourishment that the earth bestows.
The array of animals in the wild
Domestic pets loved as would be a child
Statuesque horses for mankind to ride
Sheep and cattle gracing the countryside.
Birdsong all daylong in sweet melody
Flying o’er the breeze so elegantly
Every sunrise and glorious sunset
Painted by an artist who's of the best.
There’s so much to be thankful to God for
Thank Him for everything for evermore.
24th November 2021
Crimson covers calm sky
Floating clouds, wave goodbye
Burning darkness, daylong
Sunrays cease, to stay strong
Flapping wings, finding nest
Golden hour holds, vibes best
August 25, 2021.
Oh, it was a beautiful cloudless sunny day,
as I wandered a meadow to make a bouquet;
all about butterflies were dancing a ballet,
and I was dazzled by the song of a blue jay !
To a rippling stream I went on hearing a song,
and there a man sang a tune beautiful and strong;
his heavenly voice mingled with each wild birdsong,
and I stayed with him just talking all that daylong !
It would be a summer dalliance dulcet sweet,
his ethereal kisses made me overheat;
on gossamer threads I floated to our heartbeat,
we were on a labyrinthine path bittersweet !
On the last day we found a lagoon secluded;
and wept murmurous whispers of love concluded !
____________________
May 5, 2021
Poetry/Sonnet/A Summer Dalliance
Copyright Protected, ID 05-1352-721-05
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France
Written for the Standard contest, Summer Love Sonnet
sponsor, John Hamilton, Judged 05/24/2021
Third Place
Where conifers gaily waltz tempos evergreen
Unspoiled by human deeds, pure, and pristine,
Eagles soar there, spanning freedom wings
And trees gently whisper to rhythmic bird trills
Echoing grey owls, blue jays, robins, crossbills,
Hopping, jumping, circling, frolicking in breeze
Reveling with hatchlings, feeding on berries
As sun rays filtering-in on wildflowers glow
Oscillating shadows in gusting, windy, woes
Amidst bears’ huffs, woofs, raging ugly growl
When raccoons coyly snarl at foxes’ feral-howl
Hiding from pitter-patter of tropical rainfall
In heavenly paradise as birdsongs toll daylong
Serenading the land where liberty is paramount
In forest of my dreams’ blossoming sanctuary~
A temple, a hideaway, a refuge, an ecosystem,
A reserve for humanity, a shrine for sanctity,
In equilibrium, edifying calmness and peace
Where elixir of sacred life flows in holy streams
Sustaining earth’s renewal in tranquil harmony.
April 17, 2021
Placed 3rd: In the forest of my dreams premium contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
Placed 1st: All yours (Apr 24) contest
*Image of Indiana History by Giphy.
Autumn Awakes
Rustling ochre, crimson leaves all daylong,
A coolness settles, shorter days advanced,
Easterlies, westerlies, tradewinds strong,
Southward birds fly, so parts summer birdsong,
Mid leaves lay spiked beech, acorn--care enhanced,
Rustling ochre, crimson leaves all daylong,
Sweetness in brambles flourished berries throng,
Black, elder, wild rasp--touched tastebuds danced,
Easterlies, westerlies, tradewinds strong,
Favored spots, here and there, all lists are long,
'Tis time hearts invent for landscape has entranced,
Rustling ochre, crimson leaves all daylong,
Deep verdant Ivy becomes, draped headlong,
Few flowers blooms hugged flown insects instanced,
Easterlies, westerlies, tradewinds strong,
Harvested tabled, prayers blessed belong,
Autumn picturesque, surroundings felt...glanced,
Rustling ochre, crimson leaves all daylong,
Easterlies, westerlies, tradewinds strong.
2020 August 21
*7th Place*
Serenity Awakened
~~Regina McIntosh: Judged 2020 August 27
*1st Place*
COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE (20)any form any theme
~~Brian Strand: Judged 2020 August 03
Blue robin in garden sings a soothing song,
dew drops dance in rings blushing all along,
skew golden rays of strings covering a furlong,
new dawn of rebirth brings summer here daylong.
Few butterflies sprout wings to fly lifelong,
strew colors on rushing springs where they belong;
queue of red ants clings to branches too strong,
view to a world of little kings all dressed wrong.
June 30, 2020
I sit dazed, distracted, withdrawn,
wondering is it dusk or dawn?
whence daybreak?
Shelter in place is perplexing;
changes in routines quite vexing
all daylong
I dozed awhile this afternoon.
pondering quarantine past June?
bad daydreams
Arising from my computer,
Coronavirus, my tutor,
worse daymare.
“Wash hands, wear masks, find a clean glove”.
This pandemic scares ME out of
the daylights.
May 1, 2020
form: compound verse
8, 8, 3 - a, a, x - third line of each tercet has a compound word with the same base word. Credit for creation to: Margaret R. Smith.
Related Poems