The Cure for Melancholy

Blame it on heartbreak,

you said. On the utter

madness of sheer loneliness,

on having your true love so

far away yet so close for

so long. On walking through

the world with your soul

exposed. Or blame it on the

way inhibitions melt like

sugar in the rain, after so

much poetry, after midnight.

 

Blame it on the boldness

of the young. The recklessness

of the uninitiated, who does

not comprehend what is

released when some requests

are made of the woman,

or man; who has already lost

too much in too short a time.

 

Understand, you said, it can

only ever be these few hours.

Sometimes, dreams align

in parallel like that, don’t they?

The pilgrim on a path so

dedicated can be permitted one

tiny taste of what he has

sought since eternity was first

marketed as a cure for melancholy.

 

You said, you could give me

only this shard of glass you found

somewhere in the desert of

your heart. But I looked after

you were gone, and it was a

diamond you left in my open

palm. Black on one side,

white on the other. No clear

division discernible. I will blame

only you and the moon for this

new knowledge- that it takes

about 4 hours in the presence

of an angel, to believe again

in the possibility of miracles.

Reviews

[Damien Ridge]

This was a very interesting and unique poem. Your structure and use of words was refreshing. The last section hit me the hardest I think. And you finished it so strong, "that it takes about 4 hours in the presence of an angel, to believe again in the possibility of miracles" Glad I came across this, thanks for sharing!

[Marie Anzalone]

Nice to "meet" you, Damien and thank you for the thoughtful and constructive review! It is always a joy for me to know when my humble words reach out and touch someone's heart or mind. Much appreciated! I put one of your songs on my list to hopefully get to, soon.

[Damien Ridge]

Take your time! No worries at all, thanks for replying!

[B-poet]

This was a very poignant and engaging poem. Loved the overall theme as each stanza related to it so well. Great work, A riveting write. :)

[Poetic Beauty]

This is heart felt and very descriptive all the was through dripping with emotion. I like the last stanza and it sums up this poem nicely.

[Marie Anzalone]

Thaks for the lovely review, beauty! I am glad you were touched by my work today.

[W.k.kortas]

There is a wonderful mixture of the conversational and something of the confessional here as well. It has a marvelous epistolary construction to it, but it has an emotional edge to it--just the right amount, never overbearing--that belies the form. Just terrific stuff.

[Marie Anzalone]

So good to hear from you, kortas! I have been experimenting more and more with different conversational styles, from different points of view. It makes me feel good that you picked up on that. Much of my work is autobiographical in some way,as wel, so the confessional observation is also spot-on. Alway always always a joy to have my words appreciated by yo, my friend. Thanks for stopping by. I wil be back very soon to return the favor. Need to get some big professional tecnial stuff out of the way, first.

[Tony Jordan]

Nothings ever entirely black and white. I love the dreamlike qualities in this Marie. Inspiring altogether.

[Marie Anzalone]

Ah, my friend- but isn't the trick to writing reality, to mae it sound like a dream, and vice-versa? That way, you can hide greatsecrets in plain ight and few will be any the wiser. I am glad you liked this- thanks for the review!

[Chris]

I actually smiled as I came to the end of this...
and I DO understand it and why.

[Marie Anzalone]

Chris, you always did understand me what it was I was trying to say, better than most, and why. I appreciate that beyond words. Thanks for stopping by today. I know it has been a while, and I am slowly making my way back after a too-long lrking in the shadows absence. Much love.