Alone, in lonely majesty,
she sits and stares into the fire
and watches all her yesterdays
in dancing sparks and flame expire.
She warms herself with memories
of long ago, of years gone by.
Of youth misspent. Yet, unrepent,
weeps not a tear nor heaves one sigh.
The treasure, that she did not win;
the loves unloved, the foregone fame.
Such happiness as might have been
had she but played another's game.
And not one day may she recall
to live again and better make.
So, in the fire, slowly dies
each pain, each fear, each sad mistake.
That wood, which smoulders on the hearth,
once burnt is gone. Remains no more
than ashes of that living tree
which sunlight wove and moonbeams wore.
If trees must grow then trees must fall.
But youth, when felled to warm old age,
makes time become a weary tome
with mis'ry writ on ev'ry page.
She takes a log from off the pile
to place upon the funeral pyre
and laughs: 'Twas such a little blaze,
I wish that I had built it higher.
Then lifts her glass in silent toast
to fleeting flames which sing and leap
and thinks: It's been a long, long day
and I have labored and would sleep.
But Time has been the teacher true
and Now has made the lesson plain.
There's nothing more to crave nor fear
and nothing left to lose or gain.
She drinks it to the bitter dregs,
perhaps this cup her thirst will slake.
And so to bed and yet once more
to sleep, to dream, and then awake.
A contest entry
- 52nd Contest by Tarja.
475 points, ended November 5, 2007, 2 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Real Poetry by Hermit Risin.
600 points, ended January 2, 2008, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Poet's Choice IV by Luna Tique Fringe.
1750 points, ended June 1, 2008, 29 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Soul Loves to Meditate by November-Dani.
420 points, ended September 12, 2008, 14 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - DO I KNOW YOU??? IF NOT, SHOULD I??? by delightfulmess.
600 points, ended September 19, 2008, 30 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - New Favorites Wanted by pineapple-eyes.
1300 points, ended August 29, 56 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Picture Prompt ...Gold Takes All by Jade-30.
400 points, ended September 15, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Very nice write and great take on the prompt, very unique. You words are awesome and you flow so smoothly too. Good luck to you and thank you for entering my contest. Keep on penning.
Jade -
You see
You really do see. So much and so clearly. See my earlier comment dear M. xx -
OOOOH I so enjoyed this read.
Lots of spiritual imagery.
Well done and thank you for entering my contest
Delila -
I love it. It flows so naturally. Very well done.
Thank you ever so much for entering and best of luck.
Dani. -
The rhyme and rhythm is very good. I would suggest changing a word in line one..I think alone paired with lonely is a bit much...maybe quiet majesty??
I enjoyed this. Even with all the sadness it doen't come across as pitiful or maudlin. Nicely done and I have to disagree with the comment below. -
7-7.5(judging on a scale 1-10)
this tries too hard, it is so full of incoherent imagery thrust together that one can hardly concentrate on any theme, rather jumping about from image to image. i would suggest simplfying it, refining it. you write very well, and use rhyme very well, not letting overwhelm the words but rather adding to the mood, almost hypnotically. i usually hate rhyme and i think you did it really well. -
This was so awesome. Thank you very much for entering. The word choice and the rhyme scheme, the flow, everything was just excellent. Good luck.
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I adore this... very natural flow and meter.
It could have been me :-)
Loved it,
~ Wendy
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This is an exclent poem.... even though it's a little long for my taste, but it was exclent... the only problem is you forgot to type tear drop in your author;s box...
Blessed be
Mystic -
You really have a way with words!...nicely done.
Thank you for entering and Good Luck!
debbie
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Oh - 'she takes a log from off the pile' seemed so perfectly modern and easy in this - so glad she didn't drink the hemlock which this form suggests. She awakens. Thank heaven. Hell, you are so good I'm telling my friends.... xx
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I liked it. I liked it a lot.
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fire, retire.... oh hell no. conspire perhaps, for some more wood if the firestarters are still blazing. Tom Wolfe did take acid a few times throughout his experience with the Pranksters but surely wasnt an acidhead. I remember him giving the very real imagery of your nerve endings sparking (something to that extent). i really love this poem, very simple but delivered with great extensions of description. it takes you through a clear time that was spent breaking down the thoughts that bring clarity to life.
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