And how was I to know

As the darkness trembles and quakes around me, I recall my yesterdays, dim and marred. The light of the amber orb now pierces the shadowed, cloudy cover of earth, and on its face I view my own.

 

The chilled wind with frozen voice,

lifts saddened scents of drifted days.

Upon each breath a doubting choice,

the winded, weeping figure lays.

And how was I to know that day,

would alter every moment on?

And how was I to hope to stay,

when friends in movement now are gone?

Yet here I stand with grasping eyes,

and view my common, ever-soil.

Born here in sand and raised in lies,

appearing tranquil, royal grace.

 

     I rest on the Idler’s rooftop, engulfed in flooding memories.

Author's Note

From chapter three of "An owl on the moon,” Top of the stairs: March…

Reviews

[A.G.]

Wow. I really loved this poem. Smooth flow and honestly beautiful. I liked your word choice and the way you described things. I enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing (:
-Angelina 🖤

[An owl on the moon]

Oh, Angelina, thank you so much for your kindness! This flowed from much pain, but I'm trying to learn that even pain can bring beauty to our lives. May your day bring you so much joy! 🖤

[A.G.]

Your welcome and you too my friend 😊
-Angelina 🖤

[An owl on the moon]

It just did... thank YOU! 😊

[Crowley]

Damn. You are like an poetry engine. Yo never take the easy path and it sounds so effortless. The rhyme scheme and flow never seem stilted or forced. You are a force of nature and this is your, a monsoon of renaissance words. yes I had to use spell check to spell renaissance right, both times...lol. Great Work Craig!!!

[An owl on the moon]

Thank you so much my good friend. Smiling at the renaissance of your words. This poetic place nearly took me out of the world, so I'm grateful you were moved into the dark space.

[Just Kim]

I really like the rhythm of this piece and the wording, it is very well written.
in hopes that you will honor a friend request from me. I love your writes.

[Moonie]

I like the rhythm and rhyme of this piece, which lends an almost musical quality to it! Also the woman in the image is absolutely stunning! ❤

[An owl on the moon]

Smiling... so happy you enjoyed the music of the verse. Ah, she is an acquaintance from Portugal... her images fit the story so well. ❤

[SleeplessVolcano]

What a delight to read! The unusual use of "hiding" the structured poem inbetween a few perspective-giving sentences work so well! Those memories lingering, afterwards, tend to echo the essence of the poem.

Brilliant poetry.

[An owl on the moon]

Your kindness always makes me grateful for your moments here. Thank you so much!

[The Iron Horseman]

This poem is beautiful and very well written, though I believe it requires some context to achieve full understanding. Unfortunately I have not read the earlier work from which it is extracted.
Nonetheless, a superb piece of work.

[An owl on the moon]

I understand, and thank you so much for stopping to read these fragments. Much appreciated!

[The Iron Horseman]

You are very welcome.

[GlitterOnTheFloor]

I agree. This was very well written but provided the context (perhaps the author's past experience, or some other person's) the relatability of this literary piece would definitely be superb!

[An owl on the moon]

I am so grateful that you were here adding your voice to the music of this conversation. :)

[barleygirl]

This is an excellent poem with strong rhyme, rhythm, & word sound play like alliteration & more. Sometimes a poem written in somewhat stilted language as this one is -- not too easy for me to follow in my simple straightforward sensibilities. But your message flows with clarity, so the elevated style does not impede my understanding at all, which I love (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[An owl on the moon]

Thank you so much, Margie! This one flowed through me some years back, but the beautiful aching remains.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

I am so disappointed that I don’t get your poetry in my feed here anymore. I don’t know why this is my friend. Your image and poem transfix me with their other- worldliness and surreal beauty. Title, Language, form, flow, cadence, rhyme- all great. So intriguing, I will seek you out and read more! Hope all is well with you!:))

[An owl on the moon]

I made sure we were still friends, dear Annette! Thank you for your kindness is coming by. May this week bring you much joy! :)

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Namaste my friend.:)

[Mrudula Rani]

You write with such a perfection. And your poems are a journey on emotions. " And how was I to know?" constantly we ask ourselves, don't we???

[An owl on the moon]

I am so grateful for your insightful thoughts. Yes, too often the questions ripple through us.

[Mrudula Rani]

The pleasure of reading your writing is entirely mine.