Sunday, December 5, 2010

Carry the Weight of Stars (Poem)

Photograph by Lisa Michelle Arhontidis Used With Permission
© Lisa Michelle Arhontidis

Carry the Weight of Stars

Begin at the curve, slide over the edge gently, trail
      a path downward softly, keeping your eyes closed.

Whisper nothing in the dark that can be mistaken
      for more than the banquet you've promised.

Hear nothing in the pauses that will take you
      a lifetime to get over once the lights come on.

Forget nothing about your own standstill heart
      as the music goes low in the background.

Listen carefully. Let this moment be like the first time
      you kneeled at the ocean's side, drawing in

With every salted breath another blood-warming
      finger of sunlight to burn up the wave

After wave of longing. Lie as if there is no horizon
      to break the one into two, as if your very life

Depends on your spine rising and falling with every kiss
      imprinted between your first thought and your last.

Let the sticky sweetness linger until dawn. When you get
      up, walk away as if you carry the weight of stars.

© 2010 Maureen E. Doallas
_________________________

I wrote this poem for One Shoot Sunday at One Stop Poetry, which today features a Picture Prompt Poetry Challenge using the image shown above.


Anyone may participate in the challenge. Go here to read the interview with photographer Lisa Michelle Arhontidis, and to learn what to do to accept the challenge. Be sure to leave there the link to your poem or prose offering.

21 comments:

Kelly Sauer said...

the intensity of this poem brings me to tears... omigoodness.

Louise Gallagher said...

Oh my.

You left me breathless, wanting more.

Beautiful.

Claudia said...

oh wow maureen - how beautiful and intense...carry the weight of stars... this leaves me breathless
lots of fantastic lines in here..my fav may be...Whisper nothing in the dark that can be mistaken
for more than the banquet you've promised...

thelmaz said...

Lovely!

dustus said...

Wow! Passionate lines that consider both the repetition of "nothing" as well as sensations and perceptions translating so well into smooth poetry.

Susanne Barrett said...

So very evocative--so sensory. Beautifully done!

Stacy Michelle said...

there is a hunger that you create in this poem that makes my belly ache with longing. Nice work Maureen, beautiful photo Lisa.

Anita Magdalena said...

Enchanting intense depth and passion.

Anita.

hedgewitch said...

Some excellent lines, and a vivid illustration of the heart.

Jenne' R. Andrews said...

intense and lyrical-- time for a cold shower... such care for those crystalline images...xxxj

batsick said...

Cool! Here's mine http://thelunaticsdiary.blogspot.com/2010/12/dreams-are-never-eternal.html

Reflections said...

Such an evocative intesity in the depths of your passions... well done, sensuous piece.

Helena Malheur said...

My, where do I start? Passionate, enticing, intense, inspiring, beautifully romantic… I could go on… what a gorgeous piece of writing. A real pleasure to read!

Anonymous said...

Brilliant! I really don't know where to begin, which for me is a first. You caught the moment exquisitely!

Chris G. said...

Wow, a stunning intensity to this one. Breathless inducing depth, a powerful poem that grips the senses and stirs the longing. Smooth flow, crisp, potent words. Love it.

Glynn said...

Beautiful poem, Maureen. Just beautiful.

Anonymous said...

i like the picture of the ocean and waves.

Simon Hay said...

Oh yes, yummy!

S. Etole said...

intensely felt ...

Anonymous said...

Well done!
"...Let this moment be like the first time you kneeled at the ocean's side."

Alegria Imperial said...

I love it, Maureen! Love every line, every word and how you weave the whole poem in seamless passion. Thank you!