The Light I Brought Too Late

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By SamanthaHalpin

Mon, 28 Oct 2013
  • 2654 reads
9 comments
 

You always told me
that words were like flames.

Roaring
at their most passionate,
spreading
at their most incredible,
warming
at their most beautiful.

I wish I had listened 
when you told me that
even a candle,
just the smallest amount of words,
was enough to steal a room from darkness.

You always told me 
that words were like flames.
I will never know
whether you drowned in the darkness
or set yourself alight 
in the desperate search for the fire.

There are candles lit 
at your graveside now.
They can't be blown out
by the wind
or by time.
They flicker in a hopeless grief,
I will never be able to sleep in their restless glow.

Those tiny flames are still like words,
the words I will always wish I had said to you:
The light I brought too late.

 
Certificate 12
Poem
Philosophy

Comments

Submitted by Luke Neima on

This is not only our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day, but also our Poem of the Week!

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Submitted by JupiterMoon on

This poem is truly amazing...this totally blew me away. These words...

I will never know

whether you drowned in the darkness

or set yourself alight 
in the desperate search for the fire.

are just genius. The consistency of the theme as well, runs throughout like a silver thread, capturing a sadness and beauty that is hard enough to capture in words, but to pin it down like this, is flawless.

I think this is the best thing I've read on here, and if not the best, undoubtedly my favourite. 

 

Submitted by SamanthaHalpin on

Thank you so much for your response, it means an incredible deal to me, particularly as this is a very significant poem for me. I thoroughly appreciate your kind words. All the best x

Submitted by celticman on

Yes, few words can say and convery so much. Your words, your poetry, has brought a glow to my day. 

 

Submitted by KateReamer on

Everything you said in this poem is so very true. This is beautiful. 

Kate 

Submitted by prettyrose on

Hi Samantha :) I hope your well!

 

I really enjoyed this, well done you deserve all your praise, your so talented.

 

 

Keep Smiling

Keep Writing :)

smiley Keep Smiling

Keep Writing xxx

Submitted by Art of the Diver on

Excellent writing and worthy of your awards... I hope that your words are heard where ever people meet to try to lesson the youth suicde rates... this piece has so much heart attached to it that no one could not in some way appreciate its message... your words

Take care and thank you

Rob

Submitted by SamanthaHalpin on

I realise you commented a long while ago now, but I have only just had the pleasure of reading it. Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so pleased twith your comments, considering I wrote this in the wake of the suicide of a close friend, and feel so strongly about this as an issue.

 

Thank you. All the best x

Submitted by Linda Wigzell Cress on

A beautiful and heartfelt poem Samantha. 'Drowned in darkness...' an apt description of a feeling far too many people know only too well.

Linda