Here and There

Sad rain falls upon the demesne.
My head is here; my heart is there.
A rainbow gambols on the green.
Hope lies between joy and despair.

My own heartache abounds in tears -
a wink from a star without aim.
Straight to the root of pensive fears -
a light in the dark bears your name.

Short is the space which love can share.
Love fades like foam upon the sea.
My head is here; my heart is there.
You disappear inside of me.

The trembling form by moonlight fair
is weeping dew from gentle eyes.
My head is here; my heart is there.
The stars fade from evening skies.

The shadows round my senses steal,
around the love we cannot share,
standing between the wrong and real,
while I am here and you are there.

Reviews

[David Lewis Paget]

I like the counterpoint here, the hope that lies between joy and despair, the disparate directions that heart and head take us. That final verse is superb, the ultimate conclusion, which can indicate either a physical barrier to overcome, such as distance, or the equally restrictive barriers of attitudes, beliefs, and conflicting emotions. The fact that 'you disappear inside of me' may not necessarily indicate termination, but merely absorption of the other, which then adds to the confusion - 'my head is here; my heart is there.'

[Twilight]

"Love fades like foam upon the sea". How true these words are. The meaning is self-evident, yet eloquently put. Whilst reading this poem, I had the impression that it had been written rather thoughtfully.

The theme seems to be about the fact that a woman's heart can sometimes be in conflict with her judgement. Or, when her feelings are trapped between fantasy and reality, perhaps? Of course, only the writer knows for sure.

The very last verse is slightly mysterious. I liked that. Perhaps it is making a reference to how love can be displaced? Or our awareness of space and time, in the context of love?

This poem is quite thought-provoking, Linda. It demonstrates your ability to pose meaningful questions in a poem, rather than concentrating on imagery alone. Only the more creative poets are skilled at both. You have a rare and precious talent.

But, "you disappear inside of me". That line didn't have an obvious meaning to me. Not one of which I could be sure.