Poem: Love

Check out my latest poem—Love. The title is pretty self-descriptive; nonetheless, there are some subtleties and additional messages that aren’t.

First of all, take a look.

Like simple, forthright folk (of which I can hardly be said to be one, but hey ho) I shall start with the first stanza:

I have often wondered
If the sea is not merely the gleam
Of emerald hues and lonely blues;
But that in its soulful countenance
Lie the secrets of the earth.

This is actually a pretty simple descriptive paragraph—ostensibly—but it does act as a metaphor for some of the themes. The sea is, of course, an element of nature; and the fact that it reflects is also pertinent. The narrator is seeking meaning in nature. Thing is, nature can be pretty obtuse.

Moving on to stanza two (surprise surprise) we now get:

‘Do you believe in life?’ my lover asks;
‘Do you believe in the plangent cries of merry birds
‘In the fuchsia gleam of awakening suns – and in
‘Hope?
‘Is this real, or but vacuous imaginings?’

As you can see, our poem poses some solipsistic questions. Do we, indeed, know that the world is real? For I, of all people, know the power of the imagination. And yet: the lovers believe in reality. Why?

‘Perhaps,’ he concurs: ‘Perhaps you would imagine
‘Facsimiles and lies
‘With greater power than ought befit ephemeral souls;
‘But you would never capture me.
‘You would never believe the power of my kiss.’

The power of a kiss. Delusion, or enlightenment?

Ponder that, and other questions. The poem raises many. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a book to promote...