Members Of The Jury

The only difference between a flower and a weed is judgement.

Members of the jury please be seated.
I am about to present a poem.
May it be received and oft repeated
among many others if you know them.
I neither weep nor sleep for flowers cast,

neither bow before the chantry of death.
I humbly submit the present and past,
the now that is bathed with fortunate breath.

I appear before you a sacrament,
a revenant born of beauty and pain,
a daily reminder and punishment
of that which has fallen when echoes remain.
A conversant belle in a sacred shell,
a fledgling born with wings of midnight sun,
a ponderous depth, a merciful swell,
I am the lamplight of a dream-span spun.

Members of the jury, both wise and brave,
there are no shadows in this wholesome release.
We all want heaven, and heaven we crave.
There can be no guilt in the arms of peace.
I place before you all the evidence:
the pillars of truth, the boulders of guile,
the washbowl of unstained deliverance,
the half moon gleaming in back of my smile.

My hands are silently decomposing
like petals fading in gardens of stone.
My eyes yet open are slowly closing,
loosen the teardrops and lashes of bone.
My words verboten are a requiem,
a surge of faith in an ice-bed of reeds,
a lover’s song in vaunt compendium,
a rosary of confessional beads.

Members of the jury, I acquiesce.
I painted the bridges; I burned the sky.
Perfectly human, I have no regrets.
Shredded remains are my only reply.
Let my words be enough to understand,
I dragged my fingers through layers of dust
as my heart was pulled through a desert land
erecting such treasures as hope and trust.

I write that I might breathe in every line
to live long beyond the breath of pages,
to linger on lips that rise above mine
with the sovereignty of golden ages.
Members of the jury, I gently close.
Judge as you will for it is your duty.
As an albatross fell, a songbird rose.
A prayer bird soars on wings of beauty.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The ancient mariner's eyes are full of wistful tears but still he listens to the songs of sparrows and sea nymphs. I think you may have a bit of mermaid in your muse. "I have heard the mermaids singing each to each..."

[mattavelli]

Hello, Linda! :)
I say Guilty! Haha
This is phenomenal poetry. The theme is vibrant and touching, the imagery is vivid and beautiful, the rhymes lovely; most striking was your rhythmic phrasing. It was a dreamy read. Thank you for sharing.

[Poetic Beauty]

Members of the jury should definitely listen to this poem and learn to find adventure and peace in life.

Outstanding imagery in this poem from the first line to the last

[Chris]

It been awhile...welcome back.

As thought-full as ever. Anything new?

[T.S. Ulmus]

I came to you because another poet recommended it, just clicked on the first poem, and damn! I'm sure I will enjoy your entire body of work. Though I will admit a tinge of jealousy in reading something so good.

[Roland Petrov]

Best poem I've read in quite a while. You will live long through poems like this.

[poetgurl]

Simply one word "WOW!" this is amazing, love the art work as well. nicely done

[Robert Trakofler]

As usual your structure and rhyme scheme are lovely and show no sign of stricture and the flow of your conveyance bleeds thru so nicely:) As for me in relating these lines... no jury could ever be more harsh than the one tween my ears LOL! As a man of whom had no children that feeling of leaving a legacy in words is a strong one. I think it comes from the hearing of so many others, of whom have left the threads of existence in lines on paper and canvas whispers in notes, and within them a hidden plea of take this and don't just take this but wrap yourself in it and then make it fly further:) add voice to the myriad others and billow the sails of humanity! I can see no greater purpose than that dear songbird scribe Van Tassel:) please keep singing... its a lovely tune

[andrew mitchell]

Stunning work. Just that!