I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

24 October 2016

Burning

When the flame stretches a tendril of light
and catches the circling moth, there's a flare,
a sudden incandescence, briefly bright ...
then it's as if nothing was ever there –
only silence, only the empty air.

Of you and me, I didn't know which one
was moth, and which flame – until you were gone.
Mourning that death, I thought you the moth, who
in that blazing moment, vanishing, shone.
Then I saw how caught I was. Then I knew.


Linked to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #332

On 12 Dec. 2016 it was announced that this poem came second in the recent Dizain Challenge at Poetic Asides. To read the beautiful winning poem by Jane Shlensky and see the Top 10 list, click here.

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27 comments:

  1. Thylacine X24 October 2016 at 19:52

    I like this form Rosemary: you have a deft touch with it :)

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade25 October 2016 at 09:22

      Thanks. I am mainly doing so many because of the Poetic Asides challenge – and in the process have discovered that this form seems to suit me. But after October ends, I expect I'll give it a rest for a while.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous25 October 2016 at 08:12

    In your sadness there is joy
    There was* a love
    *is

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade25 October 2016 at 09:24

      This one's imagined, for the purposes of exploring metaphor. (Years of practising haiku made me a bit deficient in metaphor!)

      Delete
  3. Sherry Blue Sky10 December 2016 at 12:17

    This is very beautiful. I especially love the closing lines and the sudden awareness. Very cool.

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  4. Sumana Roy10 December 2016 at 21:16

    blazing, burning moment...love this poem...

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  5. Mary11 December 2016 at 03:03

    Oh, wow, Rosemary. This is beautiful and profound.

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  6. Susan11 December 2016 at 06:59

    Nothing could be closer than that link. Nothing. Wow.

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  7. Anonymous11 December 2016 at 18:52

    Wow.. I think this is one of my recent favourites of the poems you link...loved it.

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  8. J Cosmo Newbery11 December 2016 at 19:14

    Nicely done!

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  9. Jae Rose11 December 2016 at 21:10

    What a candescent end - sometimes we can only know after

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  10. kaykuala11 December 2016 at 23:40

    then it's as if nothing was ever there –
    only silence, only the empty air

    To discover emptiness can be most discouraging. One often wonders whether it is meant to hint at something!

    Hank

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  11. Sanaa Rizvi12 December 2016 at 00:15

    Beautiful! Sometimes we learn about things after they have occured.. love the wisdom in this, Rosemary❤️

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  12. Gillena Cox12 December 2016 at 01:01

    The flame of love revealing, and the warmth of love staying, even though the one who must leave vanishes. this is magnificent;

    much love...

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  13. Truedessa12 December 2016 at 02:02

    to be moth or flame, perhaps one can be both or either depending on perspective.

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  14. Matthew Henningsen12 December 2016 at 05:11

    Your second stanza is marvelous, and thought-provoking. Perhaps it is good to burn out in a great ball of flame??

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  15. Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger12 December 2016 at 06:14

    This is beautifully written Rosemary--I loved it!

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  16. Old Egg12 December 2016 at 07:32

    Losing someone you love is a little (sometime huge) death in itself, and you become a changed person. Beautifully written Rosemary.

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  17. ZQ12 December 2016 at 10:35

    Another beautiful tribute to your life and love... looking forward to your new creative release... :)
    ZQ

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  18. rallentanda12 December 2016 at 12:57

    Sad and poignant.

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  19. signed...bkm12 December 2016 at 13:45

    Very nice. Love the ending. Well done...bkm

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  20. colleen13 December 2016 at 02:53

    Poof! A flame of glory? Dust to dust? I don't think I've ever seen a moth disintegrate in flame. I will watch for that.

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade13 December 2016 at 08:04

      I only ever saw it once, as a child – but it was memorable!

      Delete
  21. Anonymous13 December 2016 at 03:37

    This is like a lost, but found in a circle.

    Elizabeth

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  22. Magical Mystical Teacher13 December 2016 at 03:41

    Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the hunter and the hunted, or between the moth and the flame.

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  23. Wendy Bourke13 December 2016 at 14:47

    That childhood memory sounds transcendent - and you have rendered it so beautifully. And congratulations on your achievement ... a lovely, mesmerizing piece.

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  24. Anonymous13 December 2016 at 21:21

    This is so SO profound.

    Vera

    ReplyDelete

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