a cute child playing by herself
accepts chocolate by stranger
is taken to desolate shed
where four men played until she bled
hurriedly she was dropped where found
a known passerby brought her home
to scared dad, mother aghast cold
who cradled half-dead six year old
---
ostracized, no child plays with her
no relatives cuddle or kiss _
cannot fathom glance of others _
shifting places baffles, bothers _
no nepenthe calms the wronged child
no nepenthe numbs shocked parents
their abused eyes stare at the gloom
why the child? why? why? Questions loom
Now I’m empty
I’ve taken plenty
of Nepenthe
and lost my mind
Oh it wasn’t that bad
or so I keep telling myself
Lying here all drowsy
trying to remember
why I took it
in the first place
Of course!
I must’ve been trying to forget
something so terrible
that I could not sleep anymore
All’s starting to make sense now
Still where’s the bliss
if I cannot reminisce
Being unable to dream
is a nightmare
But also offers
the possibility
I might finally wake up
make my bed
and sleep in it!
Wait! Wait!
I’m fully awake
and remember everything
Such utter bliss
I’m a psychopath!
I am a wounded man who has lost all belief!
The Grim Reaper will soon be coming like a thief!
{The fickle sickle of a pestering Jester}
Give me Nepenthe that I may forget my grief,
And relearn to be joyous in this life so brief!
Make me drink this nectar, may I find some relief!
Maybe I'll change my mind and shed my unbelief,
Or find my lost hope and turn over a new leaf!
This cup of forgetfulness will now become chief
In restoring my faith, I'll wipe my disbelief!
Give me Nepenthe that I may forget my grief,
And relearn to be joyous in this life so brief!
Once found upon my lover's lips;
when softly pressed against my own
all else I knew it did eclipse,
and all away was sorrow thrown;
until the next morn's dreaded dawn
did wash away with virgin light.
Then, once again, my mind was torn
and thrown into its daily fight.
I long outstayed the lover's kiss;
its hypnotic opiate haze,
seductive, comforting abyss;
now, all the reds and blues are grays.
In the still of morning’s light
Softly glowing – in virgin’s white
Burning away the dew of night
Arising in shadows, stardust delight
In the sigh of a songster’s flame
Graceful stories, poetries dark shame
Bruising the mists with heartache’s game
Embracing the moments with love’s claim
In the silence of a sensation’s ray
Skies alive with hearts who still pray
Raising the spirits who’re never gray
Wistful twilight shall never betray
In the senses of a heart who hears
Joys and dreams lost in hope’s tears
Rain softly speaks through dark fears
Reassuring the soul throughout the years
In the sound of grace being spent
Wonderful blessings, heaven sent
Broken by the snowflake’s gentle descent
Remembering love who won’t relent
In the splendor of God’s gift of grace
Inspiring the night to breath an embrace
Soothing the heart no one can replace
Singing in voices doubts can’t erase
In the sweetness of a summer’s sun
Stirring the melody that can’t be undone
A song of light, love and fun
Nepenthe speaks with elation spun
Love’s the elixir that banishes grief,
an infant sucking on his mother’s breast,
two childhood friends lost in banter and jest,
an ambedo trace granting soul relief.
Joy is soul’s diamond but ego’s the thief,
employing thought spirals that do not rest,
taking control by invading heart’s nest,
yet when touched by love, we turn a new leaf.
Octaves of love, the hues of a rainbow,
colours distinct, yet remaining entwined,
one with the universe, a seamless whole,
where boundaries blur when we bend down low,
lotus in full bloom, with bliss beats aligned,
music of the spheres and song of our soul.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.