There Is A Beauty To Sadness

“She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad. And that’s sad.” ~ Marilyn Monroe

There is a beauty to sadness

like raindrops on petals of rose

like fading blossoms of gladness

that scatter when the cold wind blows.

 

Like a star that falls to the earth,

there is a beauty to sadness

like a child unwanted from birth

seeking love on lips of madness.

 

I know the breadth of this badness,

the shadow of its darkened wings.

There is a beauty to sadness

like a guitar with broken strings.

 

Like tears hiding behind a smile,

the breath that lips will never press

whose joy but lasts a little while.

There is a beauty to sadness.

Author's Note

Reviews

[carl]

agreed that beauty and sadness can be found in the same place, person, or time, and of course the two are found separate from each other (more?) often. I confess limited knowledge about Marilyn but wonder if it's not a detraction from the "beauty" of your work.
"Like a star that falls to the earth,
there is a beauty to sadness."
A beautiful image in itself that allows the reader to form their own analogies to the concept your presenting. A line from one of my favorite songs I offer for an example, (There's something liberating death alone brings - There's something funny about a lot of sad things) I enjoyed the read and felt it is a very moving piece. I do realize your piece is a tribute to someone your appreciate and with whom you sympathize. Please forgive if I am over stepping my place. Thanks for the post -carl

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

No worries. As expressed to someone earlier, this poem is not about Marilyn Monroe. It is about the beauty to sadness. The picture that I chose just happens to be of her and portrays the emotion that I want to go with the poem. Thank you for your kind words.

[Patricia Wedel]

The innocense of Marilyn was real, and like Elvis himself... a phenomenon of
extraordinary and breathless Talent. Your poetry is full of Grace and Wonder.
softly, Pat

[ogirhsog]

What you've written is very true, about there being beauty in sadness, and it's very beautiful the way you've written it, but it's hard to tell from the words alone just what the poem is about. Perhaps the poem would make more sense if you expanded it a bit, so that included more details of exactly who the poem was about and what their story was.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you for your review. This poem is not about Marilyn Monroe specifically. The picture was merely chosen because it represents the beauty to sadness. It could be about anyone.

[willweb]

Such a sad story wrapped around a beautiful woman, manipulated for greed and used for power but in the end, tossed aside when she was deemed no longer useful. The entire theme of her professional existence is sad because it doesn't seem she was ever able to find any happiness. Though I do not know that for a fact and hope that she was able to experience some joy in her life. Your poem your tribute to her is yet another example of your beautiful talent in poetry. One can feel the emotions pouring from your work and it seems obvious this was written from the heart. Wonderfully done my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing video and beautiful words for dear Marilyn. She had the look of innocence and sweetness. She left our world too song. Thank you dear Linda for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Beautiful tribute to MM. Penned perfectly and your posted image of her shows her sadness and haunting beauty. A lovely piece Linda. A tragic loss .

Chris

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Chris. She was a beautiful tragedy.

[Chris Shaw]

Your posted image of her is perfect. Of all the hundreds of thousands of photographs taken of her, the one you have chosen, captures her sadness and beauty brilliantly.

[Ken e Bujold]

there is indeed a beauty to sadness ... when it is written as exquisitely as this little gem of a poem. Enjoyed the visit Linda

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Ken.

[Kelly Scheppers]

"...the breath that lips will never pass."

I'd know that face anywhere! Beautiful tribute, Linda. Like the brilliant light of a falling star she was gone too soon.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Gone too soon and suffered far too much. Thank you, Kelly.

[John the Baptist]

Mr. Poe wrote of the beauty of sadness. MM lived it. I think you have told us her story in this one, Linda. From what I know of the story, she never got over the pain of the abandonment she experienced in childhood. Thus the bad marriages and being relegated to the sex symbol category. Her death is still regarded as a "probable suicide." It could be that she just couldn't take it any more.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you.