Amongst the Stars

16th September, 2019: To the scribbles on yellowing pages, to the smiles frozen in frames.

Looking back through many a dreary morn, through many a sleepless night,

 I  have come  to seek the Midas  touch ; Memory, bring forth your light.

If your light may summon darkness, let it come -  the blessed dark sea,

Where the stifled sobs seek expression, where the reckless tears break free.

Drawing  aside  Time's moth-eaten veil ,  I peep  into the past,

As a shaft of ivory moonlight ,pale, wipes away the age-old dust.

I see your lips  tremble  in the magic of the night,

Looking at you, once more, in myriad-hued Childhood's light.

Speeding along the deserted roads under the night's neglectful eyes,

A child , in the backseat,  basked in Elton John's  "Sacrifice".

The" Norwegian Woods" still trickles out of the Beatles' sonorous voice.

I wonder if they still sing to you in your far-away Troy.

The almirah's stuffed with memories- shirts that speak of a death.

I put it on today - the blue shirt of yours - in a rush of hiraeth.

It all returns - the cigar  smoke you tried  in  vain to hide in  mints,

And the incense sticks that suppressed it all-your departure left no hints -

Just a couple of "Chloromint"s as you left for the foreign lands,

The child waved goodbye and one dropped from her restless hands.

Did the tiny crystals,green, whisper of an imminent gale?

I knew not that, with the parting kiss, you meant to bid farewell.

The cars that bore you far away, returned with the coffin....

The suffocating fragrance of sandalwood and the shattered crystals,green.

I believed,you left for a better home in the myths of mountainous Greece.

Years...ten years have sought your address in fragile memories.

Yet, as the night, on weary wings, descends upon Day's window-pane,

And the drowsy world retires to rest  in its secret, dreamy den,

I hear a knock at the door- I open the windows wide,

Out there, a mournful smile haunts me through the morning white.

Thoughts creep in, of dreary afterlife, in the purgations of the dark,

Shadows rise from their vandalized graves to throttle the song of the lark.

Time trickles, in heartless steps, down the pages of  the calendar,

Dear ones fade into oblivion-Autumn leaves at the dawn of an endless winter.

In the twilight of the setting sun, where day blends in peaceful slumber,

I find you walk, in open arms, to these abandoned chambers.

The scorched world thunders in anticipation of the first monsoon rains.

This day demands no words-freeze your smiles in our overflowing silence...

The silence that speaks of no balm to erase the never-healing scars,

Though I feel your eyes shining back from a sky still full of stars-

From that distant world the new-born sun strokes in the first patches of red,

Our funeral hymns rise over the skies and, in nostalgic whispers, fade.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love the way your writing is a blend of prose & poetry. I love the way your imagery sounds bright & fulsome, piquing the reader's imagination with lots of mind pops for all the senses. There are spots where your writing reads like a story & I find myself more engaged thru these passages. Then there are spots where your writing is more nuanced & I can't guess what the story might be (which is OK too). All in all you have a ton of imagination, but some people might not be able to follow how your message somersaults (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Esther]

Thanks a lot.

[Neville]

A compelling read and thoroughly enjoyed... Neville

[Esther]

Thank you!

[Coyote Poetry]

I like your style of writing. Old fashion feel to the poem. I liked how you used description. Made it easy to be understood. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Esther]

Thanks a lot.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome.

[emmajoy]

' Dear ones fade into oblivion-Autumn leaves at the dawn of an endless winter.
In the twilight of the setting sun, where day blends in peaceful slumber,
I find you walk, in open arms, to these abandoned chambers.
The scorched world thunders in anticipation of the first monsoon rains. '

There are so many excerpts i could snatch to shine light on your writing. You describe emotions, thoughts with great skill.. perhaps with too few pauses. Think that might be due to such a long, flowing piece of writing, poetry, telling.. One needs stop to think, to appreciate.

But, your words stimulate the senses.. tho for the moment, i feel almost drained - need to return, read in sections, ponder over.. Beautiful, however..

[Esther]

Thank you so much!

[Christy the Poetic Hear..]

I like the comparison with Midas. I like everything else about this wonderful poem. Your words flow with grace and beauty.
Nice writing !!

[Esther]

Thank you.