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after the last chance

 

Here it comes again, like a month.

A season that never changes.
I stay in bed and forget my dreams.
Inspiration hides in cool breezes
and calico landscapes.
I write poems like the days -
shorter and dark.
I light candles. Apple cinnamon,
french vanilla, jasmine sandlewood.
I place them in every room.
I light one for the front step.
My house glows like midnight mass,
but my eyes are itchy and I’m thin
and faded, a crumbling candle
shoved to the back of his junk drawer
again.











A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 38 of 38

  • kristian 28
    July 29

    Edit | Reply
    this is a discontempt i feel about the things that contunually drag me down and can´t for some reason make them last,maybe they wont,because if they could i wouldnt..


  • Jettison
    February 11

    Edit | Reply
    i appreciated this SO MUCH.

    "I write poems like the days -
    shorter and dark. "

    ^^ that was beautiful. something so, so true about the bleak mid-winter (although i realize this was september, it's february now so deal with my frame of mind.). you're kind of like that person who does non-experimental research and comes to a cause-and-effect conclusion anyway. i love it.

    plus... calico landscapes. are you a fricking genius? because i live in Minnesota and that IS our landscape, for about half the year. It's depressing. We basically bow down to the first green blade of grass. And by bow down, I mean, if we weren't crying from joy we'd think about gathering together and bowing down. Anyway. It's the "calico" that i'm obsessed with. Mostly because our nasty, old, raggedy Calico cat also has dandruff, and if you've been to minnesota you know how that fits in.


  • thepoetssoul
    February 10

    Edit | Reply
    Your a romantic, you deserve much more than the dark corner of some dusty drawer.I feel a deep longing within this penning, for you to be swept off your feet.Your a beautiful poet, I love all your poems.Thank you for being you, be blessed in all you ever do.

    Tony


  • Thoughts-of-Soloman
    September 21, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Sounds like a period of retreat and trying to take hold of one's immediate environment, claiming it with the scented candles. Yet he is not yet forgotten and still plays a large part of the context, which has been retreated into.
    Makes me think that the 'big outdoors' and freshness for the 'itchy eyes' is needed.

    Of course it's written great and congrats on the trophy! I haven't looked at the prompt, so I don't know why it shouldn't have received a gold.

    Sol


  • Kiran silver member
    September 17, 2008

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    This is so amazing!!!! Brilliant use of imagery. Loved this.


  • Age of Rain
    September 16, 2008

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    'calico landscapes' is such an image. And then your next line 'I write poems like the days -/shorter and dark' I love similes and this one made me sigh at its beauty. Wonderful work.

  • Rowan gold member
    September 15, 2008

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    This is so September... soft, and slightly melancholic. Congratulations hon!


  • Saffron gold member
    September 14, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I think it is this month when I start lighting candles again indoors, even on my front step, and in the same scents you write of here—and I know what you mean about your poems being shorter and darker like the days (but I think mine are like that on most days...).

    I loved the imagery here, and I loved the reference to midnight mass, almost like a prayer into the dark night. I just love everything about this.

    Thank you for writing this for the contest—I am so happy to see it here.

    Saffron

  • Virgoan
    September 13, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Brilliant! I like the soft tone and how you give a whisper like melancholy in this piece.

    'I write poems like the days -
    shorter and dark. '

    loved that part the most. Something personal and well toned implication.

    Thanks for sharing.


  • Harrisham Minhas
    September 13, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    This poem has been splendidly expressed with emotion and imagery.
    You've effectively used the mention of candles.
    An enjoyable read.
    Good luck in the contest.



  • faderman1959
    September 8, 2008

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    This is terrific! It speaks on more than one level. Nature, life and love. Such a rich poem also! Full of emotion that touch all the senses. Great write my friend!


  • Cup-a-Joe
    September 8, 2008
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    Wonderful

    I like the images in this.
    Joe

  • dx d by me
    September 8, 2008

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    Jamm packed with visuals and aromas, perhaps only you could write effectively for both of those senses. I like the meloncholy thread that hovers around this piece. One item, I don't think you need 'again' in the last line. It repeats the thought of the first line. This piece should not end where it starts. The impact of the 'junk drawer' is far more powerful without 'again'.

    • tara wilson gold member
      September 8, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      thanks, Geo - I will definately consider your suggestion about the ending

  • Suzanne Dia
    September 8, 2008

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    September is like that, isn't it?
    All caught at the end of the warmth of flowers and growth
    and then we falter towards winter
    step too heavily into autumn
    and think of the sunbaked days...

    but there is warmth in september, too
    just gotta crawl outta that drawer

    I love this

    if you haven't heard it
    look up "Wake me up when September Ends" by Green Day.


    • tara wilson gold member
      September 8, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      thanks so much - and I love that song

      and thanks for taking the time to send me some revisions on the poem, VERY MUCH appreciated & I will consider some of those, for sure, Suzi


  • Sudo Nimh silver member
    September 8, 2008

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    ..THe days gropw shorter and dark as the archetypal Persephone prepares for her descent into Hades..the way is lit by candles..it is a lovely poem..very evocative.

  • silverfish
    September 8, 2008

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    something about candles, fragrant with light, and votive flames like prayers that gives this poem the feel of a quiet requiem. -phish

  • Yvette Champ gold member
    September 8, 2008

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    I like the way the title naturally steps into the poem, so that there is no pause between the introduction and the intent/content. Neat.
    For me, this was two poems in one, lines 1 to 7 shared and showed the walk in the dark after yet another chance to hopefully see the light of day.
    From line 8 the self healing begins in earnest, if light isn't shed then candles, aromatic and holistic, are lit , after the last chance, the reader feels the weight of the fervour to recover with good grace, with God's grace, such is the plea within the midnight mass within the building of the self.
    The phraseology of crumbling candle caused a pause for me personally, of course it was metaphorical and not literal but I felt the waxed effigy, out of shape and waning whilst stuffed disrespectfully to the recess of his memory.

    Bravo.


  • Nangaleema
    September 7, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    yes, i've lit the apple cinnamon candles, too. september indeed.
    My favorite part of this poem is:
    "I write poems like the days -
    shorter and dark."
    you have captured the onset of the chill of autumn and a chill between two people.
    here again it is interesting how a title can add dimension or change the overall impression of a poem.
    the poem itself makes me think of how enthusiasm in long term relationships ebb and flow, since it requires too much energy to keep up effort and attentiveness constantly. but with the addition of the title, i imagine a relationship ending and a person caught in a cycle of hope and dissappointment.
    interesting read. - Mary Jo


  • Jersene gold member
    September 7, 2008
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    gorgeous penning...leaves a feeling of heaviness.


  • Heart Sutra
    September 7, 2008

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    I have junk drawer poem in my collection too but yours is by far prettier and sweeter than mine.

    Beautiful.


  • philosphyofkate silver member
    September 7, 2008

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    i love this. it makes me think about how much i love halloween because of lighting tons of jack-o-lanterns on the front steps. something about the act of warm candles on a cool night. the end of summer is so sad, and yet, my favourite time.


  • mayaa
    September 7, 2008

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    ahh how I love September and this poem


  • Nicolette gold member
    September 7, 2008

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    "I write poems like the days -
    shorter and dark."

    Loved those lines... yes, I've known those dark days too...luckily the seasons change... Lovely sense of smell in this poem, Tara and a strong finish....

    ~ Nicolette


  • Heath Thompson
    September 7, 2008

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    Tara, this is great. Some lovely imagery!

    I write poems like the days -
    shorter and dark.
    I light candles

    These lines are awesome


  • Sonja
    September 7, 2008

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    Inside of your poetry I feel myself at home. This one is surely one of your best. Great, great...
    ~Sonja~


  • iverbthenoun
    September 7, 2008
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    this is wonderful... the last three lines were sad though... very unexpected. well done.


  • Dalaney gold member
    September 6, 2008

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    I know exactly what you mean.
    I adore you, my favorite poetess.
    Love, Lane


  • sailor ptolema
    September 6, 2008

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    gorgeous!

    so, so, so good. I just loveeee this poem .

    meg

    ,


  • Cherokee
    September 6, 2008

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    I know what you mean... when I feel like a crumbly candle I have to remind myself to hold on to the wick.


  • paulcreates silver member
    September 6, 2008

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    For some reason I laughed at "the inside of an aresol can" I guess because it was so vividly overt! lol
    Then you light the candles and try to create again what is gone despite the awareness of the "used candle".
    I like it!

    Paul


  • Thomas Scott gold member
    September 6, 2008
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    Good one.


  • arafura gold member
    September 6, 2008

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    "My eyes are itchy and I’m thin
    and faded, a crumbling candle
    stuffed to the back of his junk drawer
    again."

    Wonderful!


  • And Hyetal
    September 6, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    just as lovely. A little less imagery, but still so perfect.


  • CaliOkie silver member
    September 6, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Excellent. Dark, but not devastating. So funny you write about candles -- I just lit mine the other day when it was cold and rainy out. It is the Autumn thing to do.

    Good luck in the contest.

    Garrison

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