Doubt

Gold cherry
Poem of the week
Pick of the Month

By onemorething

Tue, 23 Apr 2024
  • 3638 reads
18 comments
 

'Doubt thou stars are fire;

Doubt that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;

But never doubt I love.' ~ Hamlet

 

No fire burns like doubt,

though I am

a star, a sun, unmoved, 

my heart no more than a pump;

a device for living, but then

no fire burns like love

or its wound, carmine,

 rich enough to be religious 

or sinful, the weeping water

over stone, unstains, 

the hush of the reed bed, 

the mournful boom of bittern,

the silent clarity of consequence;

that the greatest lie might be the starkest truth

is the coldest flame.

 

 

Painting is by Millais and in the public domain.

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

doubt unravels us, but sometimes that can be a good thing. the greatest lie may be the one we tell ourselves. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks CM, no doubt. :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

You've said so much in so few words - thank you for this powerful and beautiful poem onemore

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Ah, thank you insert! Happy you liked it! 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

"the greatest lie might be the starkest truth" made me think of the eclipse, when the sun becomes black. Nothing lasts forever, even nothing. I really like "no fire burns like doubt" Doubt is the dark side of hope I guess.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks for reading it, Di. :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

"...the mournful boom of bittern,

the silent clarity of consequence,

that the greatest lie might be the starkest truth

is the coldest flame."

 

Some gorgeous lines in there, Rachel. Soulful and poignant.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you, Paul! :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Please share/retweet if you enjoy it too

 

Submitted by onemorething on

This a lovely surprise, thanks very much! :)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is our wonderful Poem of the Week! Congratulations!

Submitted by onemorething on

Blimey, thanks very much! Lovely way to end a week. x

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Poor Ophelia, the oldest trick in the book.

See you! Tom

 

Submitted by Magnolia Fay on

One of those poems that I feel the need to read multiple times to discover all the meanings. Really makes you think. Wonderful!

Magnolia Fay

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Month - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Wow! Amazing news, thank you!! xx

 

Submitted by seashore on

Beautiful words. One of those poems I wish I had written.

Submitted by onemorething on

Ahhh, thank you! That's a very lovely compliment. x