Pleasure is not always bright—
not lambent days or roving nights.
It’s in the pause when work is accomplished,
a quiet breath, though we are famished.
Its warm tea cradled in your hands,
no need for words, no heavy mands.
A laugh that drips, a gaze that lingers,
soft moments are counted on my fingers.
It’s in being held without a zounds,
in holding things, my joy knew no bounds.
In someone knowing how you sense
before you speak—before it’s dense.
Pleasure comes, then float away,
like luminous glint at end of day.
You don’t give up —you invite it start,
a gentle visitant in the heart.
A sanctuary waits for me
Beside a woodland stream;
Creatures chatter, beast and bird,
Dithering among the trees,
Engaged in nature’s repartee.
Fungi, moss, and flower
Gather in this shady, holy space,
Habitat of happy innocence,
Idyllic, secret forest glade.
Just let me linger in the quiet,
Kneel beneath the trees,
Listen to the lessons
Majestic nature speaks to me.
Noble trunks stretch upward,
Outward toward the sky,
Praising arms, uplifted, robed in
Queenly dress of leafy light.
Restorative peacefulness
Sweeps in sweet release,
Time’s tenacious grip relaxing,
Undisturbed, worldly discords cease.
Visitant I am within this wood,
Wistful, earthbound worshipper,
Xenophile, lover of heaven,
Yearning to go home.
Zion calls from where I bow.
May 22, 2022
Sometimes I've got to ask-
And can't help but exhort aloud
Am I haunted, Rask?
In this aging house
Where my granny passed
Grandpa died in this room
Marks were left of you
It's about time that I moved
We have a little boy
And a little girl
Or am I paranoid?
My bones ache just to stir
My niece,
My friend,
And I
In my bedroom
My niece,
My friend,
And I
Taking pictures
My niece,
My friend,
And I
I feared a ghost
That I
could see,
Clear as the day
We went to hide
It followed us,
Shiver, resile
I saw that girl beside
My niece, my friend
Don't be afraid
I'm terrified
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.