from lightly swirling mists of mind she wakes
and sips a breath from cream and coffee walls
beside her dreams still breathe sonorous airs
concealed beneath the lashes of her love
silently her fingers slide beneath
the rise and fall of blankets puffed with down
feeling for the signs of her faith
that carried all her whispered hopes to rest
she rolls to find beneath her shoulder blade
sixty wooden markers linked by grace
and frees them tenderly into her grasp
impressions left behind of reverence
she touches sanctity between her brows
and presses to her lips a deep respect
then one by one her fingers trace the path
of patience lowly chanted through the light
within the depths of soundless sightlessness
he senses gentle motions brush his back
a thought a breath a passing ray of light
return him slowly from the fields of night
a pastel shaded window fills his eyes
followed by a clock and dresser drawers
a soft and rhythmic murmur fills his ears
underscored by contemplative rests
the air is still as old cathedral pews
he closes both his eyes and meditates
on every word and every shift of wood
that count her prayers soft against his skin
In a list
Thoughts, Feelings, Interpretations, Experience:
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
-
I just realized, it will always be our reminder of Ernie's Manzanita home.
-
silently her fingers slide beneath
the rise and fall of blankets puffed with down
feeling for the signs of her faith
that carried all her whispered hopes to rest
I love that! the images are just beautiful, very emotional. thanks for sharing!
x -
Oh my stars, Zahhar! This is absolutely beautiful. Your images were perfect - still as old cathedral pews - depths of soundless sightlessness. Just fabulous. celtic queen
-
Wow, a deeply religious poem, cast in a very modern shape. At first I couldn't figure out what the 'sixty wooden markers' were, but 'linked by grace' then gave a lovely clue. I love the juxtaposition of prayer and waking in bed with a lover. So unexpected, the sanctity of promiscuity.
I found the continued iambic pentameter of the lines also lends the poem a timeless structure, linking beautifully to the 'old cathedral pews'.
Worth reading again and again. -
Even though I am not catholic, I can imagine the scenes you have created so well with the words you have used in these verses. Liked the flow and the images written into the lines. Morning prayers vary from church to church, from person to person, and the way you have expressed the lives of your people in this poem is very emotional and personal. I have subbed in a Catholic school and have taken the children to mass at times. Am Anglican myself, so do have some understanding where this is coming from.
-
I can imagine everything in this piece, from the down covers to the cold stone of the church floor. That means this is perfect in it's imagery. The emotions you lace in every line help to convey the meaning home to the reader, and we can feel what you are trying to express. Wonderful write and please never stop!
-
I was hesistant to click on this because of the title. I thought it was going to be another poem of the religious variety where there's little artistic merit and a whole lot of "praise the lord, praise jesus" stuff going on. But boy am I glad I clicked it. Wonderful penning, great imagery, calculated precision, very stunning.
-
Your pen is prayed upon!
Hello Zahar....you have a way with words which is very rare....your pen creates magic indeed.
Rahbar. -
Oh, thank you for this, Dad. The Rosary is an important part of my faith, of who I am now, of my sense of peace. This poem, in so many ways, tells how much you respect this particular devotion I have, as well as the relationship I have with the spirits and angels with whom and for whom I offer every bead of prayer. And it means so much to me that my wooden beads allow us to also pray together. This is why the last stanza is my favorite:
the air is still as old cathedral pews
he closes both his eyes and meditates
on every word and every shift of wood
that count her prayers soft against his skin
I must thank you too for bringing me to Mass and attending with me even if you don't have to. Thank you also for sharing with me your faith--for letting me go for a walk with you to visit your woods, as I pray with my beads.
Another beautiful piece, Erin. I hope this piece gives you a lot of happiness too, the way it gave me and your readers.
joy
Adding your comment:
1 - 9 of 9
