Nocturne of the Sepulchral Fire

The Olive grove glistens

with the white light of the moon.

A slow, hollow light, sliding down

in fluorescent beads and settling,

quietly; it collects in little pools.

The quick-silver heart of the grove

is overflowing, mixing moonlight and

blue flowers.

The bees have left Buzzing with the day,

and the crickets have begun to sing

at the return of their queen 

across the high altar of the sky.

Here in the grove,

the honeycomb-night has scattered

into a clean resounding silence;

broken only by the occasional, 

rushing, wisps of wind. 

Here I have found the beautiful 

jasmine of the night;

I have found the sepulchral fire

of unfettered desire.

Under the olive quilted gaze 

of her lunar-blue eyes

i have found a quiet-calm

away from the clamor of 

tyrannical days. 

Reviews

[Samuel Ferris]

shoot yeah i thought i fixed that. its Altar. Its just referring to the moon as the queen of the night and with the night brings the song of the crickets. By the end
the moonlight, blue flowers, and the affect of the moon filtering through the olive trees to make a quilted pattern over the flowers, have all mixed into one vib or feeling: lunar-blue eyes. Thats what i was thinking at least. thank you for the wonderful reviews.

[Charles]

This a a really pleasant poem to read. the imagery is exceptional and there is a nice tight theme. The metaphors are great. I had never thought about crickets having a queen (like ants), and maybe they don't, but the image (and possibility) are rewarding. the descriptions of moon, light and moon are superb. At one point you mention 'alter'. I read this as 'altar' (with an a). Unless you're doing something poetic with the shifting of time, I think that altar (as the place of worship) is what you want. Good writing. Into my library.

[Abdul Aziz]

That's quite an image! "Under the olive quilted gaze of her lunar-blue eyes". That's a superb expression. You are obviously a pro. I hope I can learn from poets like you!

[Samuel Dickens]

A wondrous image you paint. I know I'm not picking up on all your meanings, but what I do see is quite alluring.