The Portrait

On purpose, I kept an old-fashioned kind of feel for this poem. It is about a man's yearning for his lover, after she has departed from this realm. Perhaps it is also a homage to love.

 

Her Portrait Hangs,

Day And Night,

At Every Dawn,

I Cherish The Sight,

Of My Lost Lover Gwenivere,

Whose Purity Of Heart Was Crystal Clear

 

I Sit And Gaze Upon That Face,

Alone At Night,

Without Respite,

I Cherish The Sight Of My Gwenivere

 

From Dawn To Dusk,

In Her I Trust,

To Keep My Thoughts,

Away From Lust

 

But She Is No More,

Whilst I Am Here,

For The Love Of Another,

Is Yet To Appear

 

But How Could Anyone Take The Place,

Of Such Great Beauty,

And Endless Grace?

 

I Still Remember,

Her Beauteous Face,

That Tender Body,

And Warm Embrace

 

Eternal But Blind,

I Always Find,

No Greater Gift,

Than Love Divine.

Author's Note

Stylistically, I have been influenced by Edgar Allan Poe's writing; as may be evident in this poem.

Reviews

[Brianna Brie]

But How Could Anyone Take The Place,
Of Such Great Beauty,
And Endless Grace?
I Still Remember,
Her Beauteous Face,
That Tender Body,
And Warm Embrace
Eternal But Blind,
I Always Find,
No Greater Gift,
Than Love Divine.

Beautiful tribute to love mixed with a twinge of sadness. Love that last verse...poetically genius.

[Betty Hermelee]

The gift of divine love as you express it in this magnificent painting, which captures your attention so dramatically....your words alive and passionate... however i glean some sadness as the painting disappears and you are in wonder, and a new one appears, yet it seems difficult for you to accept..
lovely write!
Warmly, B

[Twilight]

Thanks, Betty. I was partly inspired by "The Picture Of Dorian Grey", and Poe's sombre but beautiful writings; for this one. I don't have any paintings myself, nor was I sad at the time of writing; Betty. It's just the emotional style of writing, which I chose to adopt; for the actual poetic content which I had in mind.

[Betty Hermelee]

Most welcome and thanks for explanation
Warmly, B

[Yoli]

I liked how this elegy is built around Courtly Love motifs, touching, made me think of a Waterhouse painting !

[Twilight]

No. I have never even heard any, of Courtney Love's music. I created this entirely. From the foundation, to the roof.!

[Invisible Ink]

Are you Sir Lancelot perhaps? Very King Arthur-ish. I love fairy/folk tales and legends, which this had the feel of for me. You were successful it making it sound of yesteryear.

[Twilight]

Thanks for the praise, Invisible Ink; but I'm no Sir Lancelot lol.

[OT]

a lovely poem, the last three stanzas are especially great! a really great read!!

[Nautili]

I love poetry with an old English feel. Fits perfectly with the content.
beautiful poem.

[Solitude]

I really love the imagery in this poem. You made an excellent choice in giving your poem a more vintage sounding voice. Your last verse is quite beautiful to me, and I think that it makes an outstanding end to an outstanding poem.
Write on.
-Solitude

[Twilight]

It was also written in solitude, Solitude; a time when I find it easier to think and write clearly.

[Jenny Nelson]

Beautiful and haunting. I really liked this. I can feel the loss and the longing. Flows really well. Very descriptive.

[Twilight]

Thankyou. Love lost, and that haunting similarity with losing someone through death; was one of my inspirations for writing this. And, it's a theme which recurred in some of Edgar Allan Poe's better known stories and poems. He has certainly influenced me, stylistically.

[Clint Hale]

"Of My Lost Lover Gwenivere,"

Reminds me of Poe's "Lost Lenore".

I like it.

[Twilight]

Exactly so, Clint. Thanks. I am certainly familiar with Lenore, and the integral sadness of lost love which it conveys.

[nora]

oh wow, you have a beautiful way with words. the rythm was seamless and very easy to read. and i usually dont like rhyming poems, but this was absolutely perfect.

'Eternal But Blind,
I Always Find,
No Greater Gift,
Than Love Divine.'

that part i foudn to be the most well-written. it was a perfect closing and just fit with the poem :)
anyway, great work julian!

[Twilight]

Thanks. That's glowing praise.!

[George Love]

An excellent work, worthy of high praise!

[Twilight]

Good to know.!