Ruins in a moonlit landscape

by Arnold Bocklin, painting, and title :)

 

 

 

 

 Like an ironic cathedral of praise,
The ruins remain,
Embarrassed by gracious moonlight,
Remembering what once was,
What now is,
Its memories now removed,
Brick by brick, yet flicker
Of life remains.
Every winter, the jackal comes
To give birth, a safe haven
In a dark and dreary forest.
The lone horseman, makes haste,
Chasing memories of that moonlit night,
In a newfound hurry, to be truly chaste,
Forgetting his ruins, he seeks new light.

 

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we try to forget the ruins inside us and rebuild our hearts---
i like the picture too, the cathedral ruins...whenever i pass by an old gutted building i imagine it in its heyday with life and activity.

[Shane Mohamed]

This is the first time I am unable to understand a poem; not a flaw of your own. I just couldn't put it together, but what I did like are the metaphors and imagery: the jackal, the cathedral, the horseman, and such. Maybe as Skittles mentioned there is some religious intention in it. I just didn't get it. Anyway, keep up the good work.

[SleeplessVolcano]

Mmmmm.....sometimes the words just jump out.....I just looked at the painting, and gave it my own interpretation......the painting hints at many questions.....why did the building suffer decay? Why is a rider at that spot.....in the middle of the night.......they are similar, in that they both regret their ruins......although the building is probably going to remain that way, the rider can turn his back on his ruins.....who knows, possibly a ren-dez-vous inside the ruins reminded the rider of past mistakes..........my words remain inferior to the mastery of the painting........which leads to another question....how many poems do I have to sell at what price to afford this painting? LOL

[Shane Mohamed]

Great sense of humor. Now that you said it it makes sense. I really never linked the painting to the poetry; something I should have done, maybe. Thank you for the interpretation.

[W.k.kortas]

It's wonderfully built, and the use of the language is first-rate. To be honest, I would conider dropping the final four lines; I understand they fit the illustration, but they feel a bit grafted on to me, and I think the piece reads better without them.

[~]

A very elegant write and with a lot of meanings. A striking personification opens the poem. The reader can identify with the building because everyone has felt like they were in ruins and not giving their potential. Still, there're things that notice us. Just like the author of the painting you've done a marvelous job putting the building on the spotlight. A vivid and vibrant imagery: "gracioud light", I cannot help but think of God still watching over us, embracing us at the state we are.
And here comes the rider. An untrained eye would almost miss him. He is small and swift. I loved the "newfound haste" - absolutely creative and incentive. A past that he doesn't want to catch up with him. Rushing towards the sun- brighter and the only light that can turn guilts of the past into vaporized dreams.
I'll give this a 100% you really outdid yourself. :) keep this up.

[SleeplessVolcano]

Oh thank you so much! My little gem is just a small reflection of a masterful painting......in fact, only after I wrote the poem did I notice other aspects....like the two stones in front of the ruins.....which looks like two graves.....with a little bit of light shining on them, right through the church......such a powerful image.....and then one of the trees in the surrounding forest.....also looking like "ruins" with more wood exposed than green leaves.......I guess when we guide our eyes to be observant, the sky is the limit of what we will see.....:)

[~]

Do you think they are graves, or just part of the ruin. :)

[SleeplessVolcano]

I know i have an overactive imagination.....but architextually, it makes sense......graves close to a chuech......two together......maybe even husband an wife.......

[SleeplessVolcano]

And*."..........

[~]

And how do you know it is a church? :):)

[SleeplessVolcano]

:).......look at the arch of the window pane.....too difined, gothic.....roman......to be a mere barn........i do have a mind you know.....;)

[~]

LOL @ having a mind. But at the time, a lot of buildings had the similar architecture. For example the city hall etc. :)