I wandered through a maze of ancient wards
my childhood poured, the years have changed it not,
Midst vapours of a time and space restored,
I cleave to loving shadows time forgot.
Amongst those of my ilk who understand
the fate that slaked my brow from then ‘till now,
they look; they smile and shake my trembling hand,
but all too soon forsake my fettered prow.
If here there be some cause of worth or cost
that bound my body to the earth- ‘tis lost.
‘Tis lost, I fret, yet here I choose to lie,
pained countenance, just as the dew is formed,
to a nightingale and vivid morning sky
I offer up my book of life, unmourned.
My symphony of joyful springs sing out,
reach high on viewless wings where angels grieve.
I fear the shadows, yea, I fear the drought
I’m grip’t by thirst for those who would believe,
therefore I gift this poesy to their eye,
to whomsoever lords it o’er the sky.
“What think ye then?” young nightingale of note,
whose only self expression is to swell,
to praise the sky with silver laden throat
and opiate a heart where dead love’s dwell.
Fly free while I who know your landscape well.
am landlocked way beneath your lowest bough.
With much to praise in passing of the days
a time span that has furrowed up my brow.
And every sore is pitted in my core,
for I’m the spring and summer that I wore.
(C) B Evans
Author notes
"wards" are parishes or villages.
A contest entry
- On Viewless Wings # 178 for Lyndon's contests of late. by Lyndon.
2750 points, ended May 12, 11 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Congratulations on the bronze and my apologies for being so late in reading this wonderful entry. I cant imagine how I missed these amazing top winning entries until now. This one is classic, done with gentle rhyme that just flows as I read. I am in awe!
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Thank you for dropping by late or not, your commenting is always welcome
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Congratulations on the wonderful Shiney!
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Thank you skybow, much apreciated
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Impressive odic challenge taken up.
You have written well. There are a couple of tiny errors, hardly noticeable. It is not often one sees 'opiate' as a verb but it is!
Your three stanzas are well-ordered andmeaningful. The final line is a stroke of poetic 'vers juste'.
Good iambic pentameters and they lend dignity to each stanza. I like the rhyme scheme: abab cdcd ee which is like a Shakespearean sonnet without its final quatrain.
Thank you poet and best wishes.
Lyndon of the Winklings.
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Thank you Lyndon praise from you is praise indeed
I want to say that this was inspired by your contest as have been many of my poems.
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Wow it seems as if I am reading a classic poem, you write in this form so well and it reads so fluidly, I am very impressed. There are so many beautiful lines in here I can't pick out a single one, I'll just say I loved them all!
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Thank you Skybow. I think its important to understand poetry,
so I am pleased you liked it.
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No wonder Ron chose this as the Title of the anthology in progress. Quite impressive writing.
"...reach high on viewless wings where angels grieve..."
Paul
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Thank you again Paul. It is a good title I agree I am pleased you liked it
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Wow. This is really terrific. You have written so well I am absorbed in this piece. A stellar last line and conclusion to this gem.
Your meter and rhyme are simply divine. Loved every inch of this. Keats would be smiling - I just know he would.
But none-the-less, - I am. Beautiful poetry. Simply beautiful poetry. ~Pamela 
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Wow Pamela you have wowed me in a priceless way today with your commenting.I am Soo glad this poem is liked as I really love doing pieces from this era. My day will fly now, Thank you again.
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Thank you dear friend for you have cleared the ice for me here Especially re the word choices.
I almost had another stanza but enough is a better time to quit. thanks again -
Beautifully melancholy
This is just amazingly beautiful and sad at the same time. So soft and reflective with superior word choice to place this scene in a bygone time.I particularly liked the lines...
"therefore I gift this poesy to their eye,
to whomsoever lords it o’er the sky. " but there is unique beauty in every line in this write.
I read this as someone about to die and they way you write here, gives this person so much dignity in their final hours. Outstanding penmanship...alby
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