Paper and Parchment, Love and Lost

a Shakespearean love poem born of fantasy

I write my woman on the wall.
Drawn in words and letters.
Clothed only in the tenderest of ink,
loosely splayed across her shoulders
and down her wispy back.
Flowing,
Catching a gust of wind as
she steps off the wallpaper.
We greet as only two lost lovers can...
A tight embrace...
of lips.
of hips.
I can feel her, hold her,
know she's mine
fondle her softly...
(she may tear if I am not gentle).
My quill dips and flutters,
and now her hair develops -
envelopes my hand.
As red as dawn,
(for the color of the sun itself
would be painful to stare at
for such long periods of time.)
She is not painful.
For she is nothing but a visage.
Yet my black jar is full,
so my descriptions may
linger...
Her skin now resembles my own
(Not unlike a rose petal)
it has texture and taste...
so sweet,
so full,
as warm as candlelight
that makes her glow in the dark.
So warm she burns me.
Her hair becomes black.
Her skin now parchment
and flaking against my skin.
My stained fingernails straining
to grasp one last hold
of her heaving bosom,
but...
her smooth features fade.
Once again,
resembling simple scrawling,
of the words that so delicately describe her.

The shadows consume her,
and yet
my thoughts linger,
so real
To me...
As real as the candle
that makes her glow in the night.
And burn.
Even the flames
cannot dry my cheeks
as my only everything
slowly cracks and floats
away on a gale of words,
a wisp of a wish,
and a heart that can bear no more.

Reviews

[The Elder Pine]

Wow this is a stinning piece. Your lines are amazing and engaging, I really enjoyed this piece. Very well done.

"I write my woman on the wall.
Drawn in words and letters.
Clothed only in the tenderest of ink,
loosely splayed across her shoulders
and down her wispy back.
Flowing,
Catching a gust of wind as
she steps off the wallpaper.
We greet as only two lost lovers can...
A tight embrace...
of lips.
of hips.
I can feel her, hold her,
know she's mine
fondle her softly...
(she may tear if I am not gentle).
My quill dips and flutters,
and now her hair develops -
envelopes my hand.
As red as dawn,
(for the color of the sun itself
would be painful to stare at
for such long periods of time.)
She is not painful.
For she is nothing but a visage.
Yet my black jar is full,
so my descriptions may
linger...
Her skin now resembles my own
(Not unlike a rose petal)
it has texture and taste...
so sweet,
so full,
as warm as candle
that makes her glow in the dark.
So warm she burns me.
Her hair becomes black.
Her skin now parchment
and flaking against my skin.
My stained fingernails straining
to grasp one last hold
of her heaving bosom,
but...
her smooth features fade.
Once again,
resembling simple scrawling,
of the words that so delicately describe her.

The shadows consume her,
and yet
my thoughts linger,
so real
To me...
As real as the candle
that makes her glow in the night.
And burn.
Even the flames
cannot dry my cheeks
as my only everything
slowly cracks and floats
away on a gale of words,
a wisp of a wish,
and a heart that can bear no more."

[Blackbirdsong]

What a glorious read! The images and feelings you evoke are quite enchanting and I love the descriptions of the woman and how they change throughout the poem to depict the mood of the narrator or perhaps his sense of impending reality amidst such a wonderful dream. You've painted quite a word picture here and it is exquisite.

[Marie]

Nicely done.

[Chris Zahar]

There's an old saying that a awesome fantasy is better than a mediocre reality. I personally like the fact that there are no consequences with a fantasy. Your writing style has a nice rhythm and beautiful descriptions.

[Tessa Le Rouge]

this is a beautiful poem...WOW. you did a fantabulous job! go you! you totally score like ten thousand cool points from me...just thought you should know. haha. love ya lots dear-heart!

[Requiem]

O.O Wow, I really like this one! The imagery is so utterly beautiful! While reading it I could see it in my mind!

[HoWiE]

The was a really well put together piece of poetry, vivid and entrancing. You clearly have a gift for this sort of thing, I enjoyed it. Thanks for entering my contest and good luck. HoWiE ;-)

[Leigha Hoffner]

Thank you for your submission. I must say that i really liked this. What a great talent you have for the writing of poetry. Keep up the good work. I think that with the talent of being able to write pure emotion you wil go very far.

[Tai Chi Italy]

This was a devastatingly amazing journey Conrad! I loved it's vigor in honest emotions, thrusting forward till the ending heart beat. Wow! I wish you the best with the comp my friend, smiling at you, Tai

[JC Fox]

This was simply enchanting and very visual, I actually kind of envisioned a sort of Geisha type woman (even though that probably isn't the case but that worked for me.) There is also a certain amount of tenderness and sadness to it. I feel you captured the essence very well and great work.