He Wanted to Possess a Cloud

He wanted to possess a cloud, because he thought

that it was a pair of wings which made her soar .

He wanted to capture her in his fist,

cut off the invisible pair of wings

and enslave her with promises of love and honesty.

She believed him and decided to forget

that she was a cloud, not a bird.

She smiled till her jaw hurt,

because he was crazy about her smile.

She never let her tears betray her pain,

because it would break his heart to see her sad.

She left her hair free even during summers,

because he loved it that way.

She stopped laughing out loud,

because he didn’t want other men to notice her.

She starved because he asked her

to get rid of the few extra kilos.

She stopped dreaming, she stopped living,

because that’s what his love demanded.

One day, winds of revulsion reminded her

that she was free to soar if she wanted…

that the cage of love can only enslave birds…

that she wasn’t made for the cage…

that the cage wasn’t sufficient to hold her…

that there were parched lands waiting

to be resurrected by her generosity.

So she escaped from the cage,

as quietly as she had entered.

He cursed her, called her a s**t

and finally got over her, concluding

that he deserved someone better.

She didn’t complain…didn’t cry.

She didn’t call him a tyrant,

didn’t label him a brute.

She just moved on,

because a cloud has to…       

Reviews

[.]

:: he was less fortunate than her... because he didn't know the meaning of love... or freedom... maybe he had a bad childhood and no one helped him see that there was true happiness only in respect for all human beings... especially girls / women... :: sometimes i wish we lived in a world in which everyone was equally liberated... on the same page... with the same sort of understanding and sensitivity about everything... :: maybe she didn't label him because she knew that he was less fortunate than her... because he didn't know what she knew about love, life, laughter and freedom... maybe...

:: a very thought-provoking piece of writing... i think the personality of both individuals is etched very well...

[DarkFantasy]

My Literary Criticism professor says "when you interpret a text, never talk about what the author meant, because we would never know what the poet/writer intended to say." But when I read your review, the first thing that came to my mind was "This was what I had in mind while I was writing the poem!" :) Your critical reading of the text has helped me read my own poem as a third person and interpret it again as a reader. thank you so much.

[.]

:: well... i'm not exactly well educated and usually just blurt out whatever thoughts a poem triggers... so i'm glad you found value in my comment... :: and...you're very welcome (of course)... :)

[DarkFantasy]

That depends on how you define education. To me anyone who can talk sense is educated. And your comment was the kind we do in out Literary Criticism class. :)

[.]

:: wow... thank you... :)

[DarkFantasy]

You are always welcome..:)

[Alexa]

Just wow, I love the analogy you made. Such a simple yet complex concept to think of

[DarkFantasy]

Thank you..:)

[Alexa]

No problem, feel free to look at my writing. It used to be a private getaway hobby until I found this site. It's amateur, but be very blunt please :))

[Sami Khalil]

The title was a bit long but the poem is imaginative and dreamy. Thank you for sharing...:)

[DarkFantasy]

Thank you.:)

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:)