The Perilous Journey of Hope

There is a certain beauty in pain,
a smooth bleakness that reaches far
into the horizon where it slices,
without malice, into the setting sun.

Cold winds howl, but in its lulls
I hear the susurrus‎ of a warm whisper
wafting on the currents of despair.
Is it possible for hope frozen to thaw

only to disappear into nature, but longing
to be found by frostbitten fingertips
deft enough to scrape away at the ice?
The pace painful, glacial and determined.

An aurora dances and writhes across the sky
as an ardent heart takes its first beat in a century.
And in a place where life was once unlivable I crawl out
of my tombed chasm and blink in confusion and wonder.

Reviews

[Mark]

My first thought after reading the first line was that the people I've seen just before their deaths were in pain but not real beautiful. Then I realized what type of pain you were referring to! I really love the last verse, '...aurora dances and writhes across the sky..' you've witnessed them. I don't think anyone who hasn't could have written that line... also I felt peaceful at the implied rebirth; a new start.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Mark I appreciate your insightful comment.

[Baby Ricochet]

Emotional pain is like a grease film on an old iron pot. You can scrub it all you want to, but it never really goes away because it has become one with the pot. It makes the pot what it is in a sense. Physical pain can focus you on the present. I don't know which one is worse.

[icelandicblue]

Me either...great analogy. We are molded by it all. Thanks BR- thanks a lot.

[Vidya Bacchus]

We need to learn from our mistakes.You have penned that very well.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you, that seems to be a theme I use a lot in my poetry.

[Vidya Bacchus]

Yes it is an important subject.You are welcome.

[Blue Ivory]

Haunting and chilly! I like how you italicize susurrus.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for commenting.

[Gleb Zavlanov]

Absolutely beautiful and moving! I am at lost for words.

I think you accidentally wrote it as a stage play, though.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Gleb. I appreciate your kind words and the heads up on the stage play.

[Carolann Dowsett]

This is so amazing .. Yes it is possible for hope frozen to thaw. What an amazing expression of pain. Loved every line

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Carolann.

[redflutterby]

Oh Anne...this is so poignant! Your words wrap around my mind and heart. Its good to see you writing again...ive missed you. x

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much red. Missed you too. First time in weeks I have felt like writing. I appreciate you saw and read it.

[redflutterby]

I'm glad I did too...baby steps Anne. One day at a time as they say! Hugs...