Image above by Eli Edward Evangelidis
that pooled in the night
deep in the bleak backwoods
of the sad brokenhearted
I hid in the anguish
of the loveless who cowered
in the dark serpent’s shadow
lost in the perverse nightmare
I fed on the grief
of the forgotten who wailed
for their horrific loss
in the ruins of despair
this was my heartscape
black as mid-winter night
a lightless horizon
no glimmer of hope
trusting was toxic
no foothold for love
relations were carnage
scattered lifeless and cold
’til you, beautiful being
eyes brilliant and true
approached from afar
bearing tinder of love
the graceful arrangement
was deftly ignited
and patiently tended
the fire gently stoked
afraid to come forward
I held outside the glow
but your kindness drew me
we stood by love’s blaze
with passion it roared
its light pierced my blackness
its heat warmed my soul
my ice heart was thawed
with you in my life
I am darkness removed
soaring and weightless
radiant and rising
vital and caring
my spirit’s renewed
illuminated wholly
by a new dawn of dreams
Her beautiful being.
rob kistner © 2019
Hi! I’m Edgrrr, rob’s shih tzu.
Such a tender reading. It reads like the image card reversed.
The image reflects the distraught negativism, the nightmare of the first half of my fable Brendan. The second half of my fable reveals a change of her perception of reality, a salvation perhaps, for the woman in the image.
Thank goodness for wee sparks… that show so much.
I wrote a poem years ago, in 2010, entitled “The Nature Of Fire” in which I address that very thing Magaly – how a raging inferno begins with a single spark. It is one of my favorite poems that I have ever written. If you would like to read it, just click above here on its title.
the power of another to foster such a change of heart – of soul. The power of kindness and love can truly save someone.
I believe Margaret, that many of us, who are the most cruel and damaged of people, are that way because we have never genuinely been loved – most certainly not in the period we are at our worst. I believe love, as well as the lack of love, is quite simply, that powerful.
The movement of this narrative was very skillfully achieved – the arc of redemption was structured perfectly.
I really love how the poem begins in the literal interpretation and moves to something more metaphoric.
Thank you Kerry, I am pleased you are so taken by the evolution of this piece!
I love the darkness of this poem, Rob, emphasised by phrases such as ‘lightless edge / that pooled in the night’; ‘dark serpent’s shadow’; ‘black as mid-winter night’; and how the light suddenly appears halfway through and then blazes, as Kerry says, as something more metaphoric.
Thank you Kim, I am pleased this piece about darkness and light resonated for you so!
This is such an evocative write, Rob! I love the detailing in this especially; “with you in my life I am darkness removed soaring and weightless radiant and rising.” 🙂
Thank you Sanaa, I am pleased you enjoyed this! 🙂
This is wonderful tale of darkness turned into light… kindness is what makes it good.
Thank you Björn. I was in the mood for a happy ending – so I created one… 🙂
Lovely, Rob!
Thank you Linda… 🙂
“a new dawn of dreams”
What everyone hopes for. Beautiful, Rob!
Thank you Sara!
’til you, beautiful being
eyes brilliant and true
a beautiful being…that is such a sacred image in my mind…bkm
Glad this resonated for you Barbara! 🙂
Thank goodness for the light. My darkness came very young and I am grateful light came to guide me out of it. Beautiful Work
Thank you Susie.