White Is The Light That I Will Never Be

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” ~ Emily Dickinson

White is the light that I will - never - be -
being a ghost who hides in the shadows -
who walks - alone - along pathways of stone -
with the wind and the rain in my house clothes -

I seek only the solace of - quiet -
threaded cotton of - invisible - verse -
whispering words appear then disappear -
holy - silence - in the hem of my skirt -

Father boarded a train travelling - east -
and mother followed him one month later -
what to do? what to do?  I am - alone -
I hold tight the stillness even greater -

The others could - never - understand me -
they cannot fathom the loneness I - crave -
this space in my soul is an - empty - hole -
there is comfort in the bowl of a grave -

I fill it with words until it’s - brimming -
white scraps of linen are folded with care -
my words are such words white-winged and as bright -
as granite ashes that - float - in the air -

Perhaps it’s not normal to embrace - dark -
to extinguish - light - in branches of me -
but it’s what I’ve known and grafted to bone -
white is the light that I - never - will be.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

what a pretty ghost:) when I imagine ghosts I always think of longing but never of longing to be alone to embrace the solitude this pretty ghost is a sadness even in the ghost world standards:( I want to give her a flower

[Pryde Foltz]

Wow .. you went very deep for this one. So much richness and poignancy. Craft and expression at its best. Thank you:)

[Cortez]

Really moving. Death unwanted afraid of afterlife. Beliefs play a role in this opinion. Seeking answers to lost loves. Wanting to be reunited with them. “Words white-winged” prayers to find answers. Loneliness engulfs you. Writer/(you)ARE worthy, to find G/love/happiness.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you.

[emmajoy]

'The others could - never - understand me - ~ ~ they cannot fathom the loneness I - crave - ~ ~ this space in my soul is an - empty - hole - ~ ~ there is comfort in the bowl of a grave '

Somehow you've created beauty from perhaps the worst combination of emotions: despair, loss and the cruel discomfort of the glare of whitest white. It takes both enormous depth and self-knowledge to express those feelings in such beautifully crafted yet academic phrasing.. Sadness leaves with me, Linda Marie, but, i leave ginormous respect for your art. Have forr years, yes?!

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Emma. Your words are always so touching and a comfort.

[Eilis]

Poetry is a beautiful grace. It allows us lonely souls the place to work these things out. I love how bare your writing can be, Linda. I am less bold, but I know it is a wonderful feeling to say exactly what the heart means.

I have a lot I would like to say to say how closely I relate to these words, but I don’t feel capable of sharing all that today. Still, it is always helpful to read of the experiences of others. Poetry opens so many doors.

This feels very like Emily. Your punctuation and words chosen to accentuate especially. The dashes are such a distinctive part of her writing. It’s easy now to forget what ground she was breaking during her lifetime. I love how this speaks to her and around her and builds on the idea of her. But also remains fully you.

Your work is beautiful. I think this is a particular favorite of mine.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you for your thoughtful and relatable review. I appreciate your honesty and your visit.

[Chris Shaw]

A highly crafted poem. Cuts to the heart with its loneliness and feelings of despair. Some very beautuf rhymes here in your classical format. Very well done Linda Marie. Your posted image of light, can't hide the the depth of despair.

Chris

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Chris. I hope you're having a beautiful day!

[Chris Shaw]

I am thank you. On holiday in a small fishing port. Love it. Hope your day is good too.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Yes. Nice and quiet thus far. I'm loving the change of season, the days when the fresh, cool air blows through my window; and I can hear the applause of leaves in the trees heralding the fall of autumn.

[Chris Shaw]

Enjoy :)........

[R.E. Ray]

Despair in the most poetic form, Linda Marie. "The bowl of a grave" conveys not only the depth of loss and submission to darkness, but also a coldness only the most depressed know. When one feels only the wind and rain, numbing the body and mind, it's difficult to find a warmth or hope in anything.

The artwork is an interesting choice. Though she walks with the sun above, her body is shadowed and she's walking away from the white light. That art and the music, paired with your poem, make another remarkable work.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, R. E. Your reviews are always so appreciated, your words those of someone who really took the time. I appreciate it so much.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I chose this picture for the reasons you iterated. It was also chosen due to the white dress. After the death of her father, it is said that Emily always wore white.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A magnificently sad write in lovely well sculpted verse with so many gem lines woven into the fabric for the reader to wonder at.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, John.

[Gee]

To write this well you must be totally free from all distractions, right ?
This is beautifully crafted and nods continually to ED.
Me, I write quickly in the mornings, my peaceful time, before the family, dogs are fully awake and the house descends into chaos.
Loved this :)

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Yes, you are correct. Even a simple meow from my beloved, Mia, is enough to throw me off course. I tend to write during the day, but it seems mostly at night that I'm am drawn pen to paper. You were the inspiration that started this time with Emily. This could actually be the first in a series that I've actually been thinking of writing for yours in homage to different poets. I've always held off on doing it because I actually wanted the first one to be about myself. I don't want others to write about me, assuming this or that. I want to write so that it's clear. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem.

[Ana B.]

Reading your lines, I find myself quite easily in them. I DID and often still very much DO crave that loneliness and being the shadow in a room. Very soulful and substantial, dipped in deep meaning. Lovely, lovely write.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts, Ana. It was nice of you to stop by.