Smooth out the bed
Let it not be said
That true love lay here,
Or here conceived,
In tongue and deed,
Unbanished fear.
Tear up the sheet
And then delete
Your heart’s desire,
Conceal, cheat
And then repeat,
Just hide the fire.
Both sheets are wet;
Mine would beget
Our mortal life;
But flame is set
And blazes yet…
Consumes our strife.
2.14.05
Your poem have that density of language which characterizes true poetry. It's not heavy language, it's fleet and mercurial; the vocabulary is simple, strong, vivid words but they have such resonance. I reread the second stanza twice, that's why I could write those two critical sentences above. My aunt who is 86 and has never read poetry asked WHAT IS POETRY? It's not that I couldn't answer her; after all these years of poetry, I have too many answers, no single one will be enough. I told her a poem is rhythmic language and rhythm is closely connected to Memory which is often the source of subjects. I wish now I could have just read this poem to her and said, You can hear familiar words, right? But they don't seem ordinary anymore, right? That's poetry - it's always lifting the veil and surprising you with something you thought you already knew. Right!
I really liked this poem, wonderful mixture of rhymes and emotion. -chuck
I shall never look at a 'bed' in the same way again after reading this one Linda. Brilliant write. Love Ernestine XXX
Linda, this poem is so understated that I wonder how you managed not to run away with the theme. Very deftly done. This gets a ten. Raynette
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
this is done with grace. overly amazing. nice job.