Forgotten Souls

Cherry

By marandina

Wed, 24 Feb 2021
  • 3201 reads
16 comments
 

I see you late at night,

as daylight’s candle flickers out,

empyrean canvas painted black,

stars of alabaster speak in hushed tones.

 

Moonlight beams cast solemn shadows,

neon street lamps, urban penumbra,

ethereal silhouettes in twilight’s hue,

a covert blanket for nocturnal creatures.

 

Souls float beyond the visible ether,

Heaven waits enwrapped in shrouds,

Carrion crows blink milk-lid eyes,

mystic guardians of lost spirits.

 

Sirius beckons humanity’s gaze,

Venus glints its stellar coruscation,

planets rotate in orbits of infinity,

eternal arbiters of celestial divinity.

 

I remember those now fading times

when we drew on life’s breath,

fleeting moments, bittersweet teardrops

in an ocean of our making.

 

I see you late at night.

 

Image at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moonfromoakland04052006.jpg with no copyright issues and free to use

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

to mars and back and endings become beginings, again. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

You got it, CM. Thanks for the cherries, ABC. Nice end to the day.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

A magical poem which really captures the spirit of the night time. I enjoyed, neon street lamps, urban penumbra. For people who still have energy after the demands of the day, the night represents another world where the planets seem closer.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks Jane. That means a lot coming from a fine poet like yourself. Thanks for reading and the lovely comment. Paul

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Beautiful, Paul. 'Carrion crows blink milk-lid eyes' - I love the contrast of the beauty of night and its shadows of crows. The 'ocean of our making'  - a line to swoon over. The last stanza and line is so powerful set against the description of night. We always see forgotten souls late at night. :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks Rachel. There's something spiritual and beguiling about crows. I think they are meant to transport souls to the "next place" whereever that may be. Flattered and pleased that you liked it :)

 

Submitted by sean mcnulty on

That last line.  Terrific way to end the poem.  Really enjoyed this.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Cheers Sean. Thanks for reading it. Paul

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

The mysteries of the night are all here written in your fantastic poem Paul.

Love the idea of Sirius beckoning humanity's gaze. Also the lines:- souls floating beyond visible ether, Heaven waits enwrapped in shrouds. Great descriptions.

Enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jenny. And for the generous comment. Paul

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I have had "urban penumbra" going through my head since reading this last night, just the sound of it is so satisfying. I did not know what penumbra was, but have often thought about the sort of light and shadows streetlights make, each one a synthetic sun, I will always think of urban penumbra now, and your poem when I walk back after dark.

Also "empyrean",  made me think of an empire like a pyre all burned out to black

I love the last 2 lines. Though the idea of the ocean being made of tears is sad, I like that there is a meeting of souls at the last.

This poem feels very big somehow, like looking up in the night and you can't see much on the ground so the sky is everything, you are just a thread

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, Di, and thanks for the thoughtful comment. I guess the beauty of poetry is that people can choose to interpret it in their own way. This is a good thing. Paul

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

That makes me think I misunderstood it completely! I am sorry. I did really like it though :0)

 

Submitted by marandina on

No not at all! I thought about commenting on what it's meant to be about but I have come to appreciate other people's take on it and anything else I write. It's flattering that folks think about it and I genuinely appreciate your thoughts. Honestly! Paul :)

 

Submitted by Hades502 on

Hey Paul, good one, another poem, huh? I really liked this. Nice word usage in every single line. Those who have commented prior to me seem to have pointed that out as well. Very well written.

GGHades502

Submitted by marandina on

Cheers Hades. Yeah...another poem for now. I haven't got any short stories drafted. Awaiting new inspiration from somewhere. It will come. Thanks again! Paul :)