Sun Sets in Beauty

the separateness of ones own world and maintaining an independent view has its cost

Sun Sets in Beauty                                  

 

How many times has the sun set in beauty,

in majestic hues of purple blue,

the fall of night would greet the day,

to relieve the sun of duty,

far on the lonely sea’s horizon,

in wonder beheld by none.

 

How many islands stand all alone,

crying undiscovered, in a wave of palms,

their shimmering waters greet the night,

as the mirrored moonlight shone,

stood patiently yet undiscovered,

waiting for a ship to come.

 

Your sails stark white against the sky,

shining crystal blue though forever wide,

in my heart I leap like a morning tide,

and strain my palms to catch your sights,

hoping you may pass my way.

 

From your ship this isle holds beauty-yes,

but the reefs unknown are a deadly bet,

if there’re harbors safe no one could guess,

it could pull you down in the drowning wet,

if you choose to pass this way.

 

How many waves have caressed this beach,

in folds of green all capped in white,

their whispered sigh like gentle words,

a prayer of hope in each,

far on this lone horizon isle,

in beauty beheld by none.

 

How many ships have passed me by,

sailed far away on the calling breeze,

though tempted by the wave of palms,

passed sadly in the purple night,

as the sunset stained my shimmering waters,

and my heart sank with the tide.

 

I see your sails tall and graceful flying,

you can feel my tides as they pull and sway,

but you hear the call of the vast horizon,

and the wonders there beheld by none,

as you turn and sail away.

 

Now I sit on this beach as the sun sets in beauty,

as the mirrored moonlight softly shines,

and I listen long to the whispering waves,

to understand their prayer-my duty,

in the hope that my heart like the tide will rise,

waiting for a ship to come.

copyright Rikkevi Rue 2010 

all rights reserved

Reviews

[Mari' Emeraude]

This has got to be one of the best poems I've come across on any of the poetry sites. 'Gonna add this one to my special treasures folder!

[Rikkevi Rue]

Um, geez Mari' Emeraude. I'm totally flattered by your review. It seems particularly telling that I posted this piece here almost 15 years ago, during a time when life was particularly harsh and I was seeking... perhaps understanding would describe it. I haven't come to this site in many years, but wanted to share the link to this poem with a friend. I guess the activity kicked me up in the search engines so you found me! When I first came to writerscafe.org my mien was rather Jack Kerouac (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kerouac) meets Merry Pranksters (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Pranksters) In return for your fine review, I promise I will come and your page, and I will drink in the unique of you. Til then, bon vivant!

[Justine]

I needed to read something that might inspire so I came to your page and selected a random piece. A perfect hit ! I love this poem. You personified it beautifully, had my heart aching by the second stanza and had me weeping by the sixth :( I hope the whispered waves heard the words spoken and brought something special your way. Justine

[Rikkevi Rue]

Well Jus I'm pleased to inspire. Unlike the fairy tales however no, the ship never came! It was a real world write, with real world players and unfortunately a real world ending. Sometimes life is sad

[Great Aunt Astri]

The impression I got is that this poem has been 'painted, from an artist's palette. I read it aloud and the flow,and imagery, is absolutely wonderful

[Rikkevi Rue]

thank you. I suppose that when I wrote it I "heard" it in my mind. It was one of those which almost "wrote itself" the concepts were so clear, but then I guess that is not too uncommon if the writing is from the heart (or soul!)

[BlackRose]

Wonderfully done! Like a path that takes me on through the journey, with such hopes for that love to be there or come. And great as this one goes all through the water and seeing the palms, sunset and all while on their ship then sitting at the beach still waiting for that special love to hopefully come.

[Shy Girl]

I liked this poem...but I LOVED the story you told within the content. I loved the feel of the isle and breeze..of gazing out at that vast expanse of rolling water...I adored the concept of ships sailing past...and that doesn't even start to describe how I abso got lost in the essense of the sun setting. Just the coloring and, again, the feeling you conveyed is breathtaking and those little pieces of rhyming on a few stanzas kept you floating with the tides. Beautiful piece...wonderous story :)

[MoriartyMesa]

the flow is nice and easy, nothing forced, neither emotion or wording.

[Robin]

I like the metaphors you use here as they raise sail on my wayfarin' heart

beautifully written