Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Perhaps (Poem)

Perhaps (Pantoum)

Perhaps your dream drifted
through unbreathed air. My own,
perhaps, has settled, there.
Cherry blossoms still and fall.

Through unbreathed air my own
love threads a mask too dark to bare.
Cherry blossoms still and fall.
Night showers us in too-pink shawls.

Love threads a mask too dark. To bear
your dream I leave my own in time.
Night showers us in too-pink shawls —
a wrist is pricked, chain's links cut, fall.

Your dream I leave. My own in time
I cleave, as moon the sun or night the day.
A wrist is pricked, chain's links cut, fall.
Remind me, love, who comes, who stays.

I cleave, as moon the sun or night the day.
I hold remorse, itself hearts sway.
Remind me, love, who comes, who stays.
Perhaps your dream drifted.

© 2013 Maureen E. Doallas

14 comments:

Hannah Stephenson said...

The ending of this really got to me, even though I knew it was coming. All these small pains and injuries...they amount to much more through the form.

(Appropriately, the first word of my captcha is "daggers")

Peggy Rosenthal said...

What a marvelous accomplishment: to create a pantoum so haunting and inviting. This is one of my favorite forms to read… partly because I'm mind-boggled whenever a poet can pull it off, as you've done here. This is a poem I'll keep returning to.

kelly cherry said...

A lovely poem! I find pantoums almost impossible to write.

Louise Gallagher said...

Oh my Maureen,

This is exquisite.

humbird said...

How interesting! I read about this poetic form, pantoum, and you, Maureen used it so nicely!
I like the play with words 'your dream I leave my own in time.'
I've enjoyed your poem! Thanks!

Brian Miller said...

really a well worked use of the form maureen....haunting is the right word for it...

Laura said...

such wistful beauty Maureen.

Elisabeth Zguta, Author said...

Maureen - this poem is so touching. Your words filled a void I felt in my heart, and I couldn't find the voice to express the feelings. You said them so eloquently. Thank you.

LaTonya Baldwin said...

ah, one form I felt comfortable exploring. Love the rhythm and images and meaning here. enjoyed. thank you.

Truedessa said...

So many great lines in this one but, if I had to chose one this would be it..

Love threads a mask too dark. To bear

Anonymous said...

Dreams drifting, rewriting what is and what will be...

Anonymous said...

well done, well done.

S. Etole said...

A haunting of heart ...

Margaret said...

Some amazing lines in this.... "cherry blossoms still and fall", the reference to pink shawls and my favorite "cleave, as moon the sun or night the day".

A Pantoum is beautiful!