the lights of my heart
This poem is the result of an image prompt. It is an oil painting by a very talented artist, Rick Mobbs, who also writes great poetry. Unfortunately, he no longer writes or posts his prompts anymore.
This poem has been on this blog before. I wrote it with the loss of a very close person in mind.
No, the below picture is not the painting that inspired this poem. For that, click on the link above.
photo by richard_b, image from morguefile.com
the lights of my heart
without you
watching these harbour lights
is not the same.
they don't dance
and skip
like flames
on shimmering skin.
and
i hear no more
the sounds
of our laughter
skimming across the waters
mingling with the splash
of waves on stone piers,
the boom of foghorns.
now the lights
they just shuffle
as on tired feet,
even the moon
detest to show
its face.
and i could not
point out to you anymore
like an old salty dog,
the coast guard cutter
that's coming home
from a night watch,
the container ship
bringing oil and grain
to feed our city,
those moving lights
are a cruise liner
like a castle on water
brighter than a thousand
christmas trees.
and so
on some
summer nights
like these
when even the breeze
seems cold
and heartbroken
when it was just me
and the sea
as i look across the waters
at those harbour lights
sometimes i wonder
are you watching
watching
from the other side.
07/07/08
********
Shared on Poetry Pantry #198 at Poets United.
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2014
This poem has been on this blog before. I wrote it with the loss of a very close person in mind.
No, the below picture is not the painting that inspired this poem. For that, click on the link above.
the lights of my heart
without you
watching these harbour lights
is not the same.
they don't dance
and skip
like flames
on shimmering skin.
and
i hear no more
the sounds
of our laughter
skimming across the waters
mingling with the splash
of waves on stone piers,
the boom of foghorns.
now the lights
they just shuffle
as on tired feet,
even the moon
detest to show
its face.
and i could not
point out to you anymore
like an old salty dog,
the coast guard cutter
that's coming home
from a night watch,
the container ship
bringing oil and grain
to feed our city,
those moving lights
are a cruise liner
like a castle on water
brighter than a thousand
christmas trees.
and so
on some
summer nights
like these
when even the breeze
seems cold
and heartbroken
when it was just me
and the sea
as i look across the waters
at those harbour lights
sometimes i wonder
are you watching
watching
from the other side.
07/07/08
********
Shared on Poetry Pantry #198 at Poets United.
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2014
posted by dsnake1 at 11:39 PM
13 Comments:
You've written such a beautiful poem. I'm completely awed by how you've described a place that has so much of meaning for you and your loved one. Your first stanza shines like an everlasting diamond.
so lovely it's chilling. love the images of the sea and lights.
This is incredibly beautiful and sad. The image prompt is very beautiful too. I so know the feeling of losing someone and how empty even the most beautiful scene can look without them to share it with. I like the wondering if the beloved other is looking back from the other side......
the loss and loneliness comes through quite seriously and sadly
have a nice Easter
much love...
I can somewhat understand the feeling. Good poem.
i like to hope that they are still watching...though it is hard in their absence....so much missing in our lives when they are gone...and i felt that in your words....
the mist of sadness fills the mind
and the description is beautiful
"like a castle on water
brighter than a thousand
christmas trees."....my favorite lines...
A wonderfully written tribute.
ZQ
madhumakhi,
:)
a place of memories.
Natasa,
yes, chilling too.
Sherry,
thanks. i wrote a few poems with rick's paintings as prompts. maybe i will post those later on. :)
this poem is sad too, as it's also about loss. it's true that no matter how lovely a scene is, it may be viewed differently if there's no one to share it with.
Gillena,
thank you, thanks for the greetings. :)
Kerridwen,
thank you! :)
Brian,
yeah, sometimes it seems so much is missing, yet at times it feels like nothing has changed.
Sumana,
:)
those liners do look like big christmas trees.
ZQ,
thank you, my friend. :)
This is a special one. Just beautiful. Who knew you were this good!
The sense of loss is palpable.Thank you for this beautiful poem.
thank you, rallentanda!
you're so kind. :)
thanks again, rallentanda.
i think it's easier to write poems out of joy, grief, loss, anger and hunger. :)
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