Lily of the Incas with kisses begins to glow,
as change
brings blues and golds about,
the sky bearing witness to words that form
on paper.
I find myself curling into a ball
as though yesterday attempting to draw emotions out
the sweet with bitter,
the tame with wild;
I am the wind spiraling in every possible direction.
I want to let go of consternation
as lips
pave the way for questions to engage in,
they visit like the outline of the moon in the froth of cold
moving forth but bashful,
how is it that every time I extend my hand
it flutters
like a chortle sounding from the corridors
of a distant dream?
Years of closed eyelids picturing the perfect pitch,
the world
as we know it is comprised of shadows and lies
and the soul being possessed centers upon
what shines the most–
perhaps maturity means being sensitive to a situation
to how we react,
my mind shivering at the thought as leaves fall
in its wake.
You will find me obedient
as a flame at the end of a lipstick stained cigarette,
let October be as unspoken letters
let me tune in to the song of the seas,
as I give in to transformation
something bluer
than twilight and impossible to resist.
Photo credits: AQ Arif Oil Painting, Karachi
Re-posted on the Poetry Pantry 🌹
Posted for Moonlight Musings: the interactive edition @ Poets United
let October be as unspoken letters
let me tune in to the song of the seas,
as I give in to transformation
something bluer
than twilight and impossible to resist.
wow wow so beautiful. Your whole poem felt like gently moving on an undulating sea
Thank you so much, Marja 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Wonderful images of the many ways and kinds of change, and how, in the end, it is the self who must transform.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
The phrase “Years of closed eyelids” lingers, leaves me wondering what must be done to open those eyes. Also, the image of Peruvian lilies glowing is quite the image.
Thank you so much, Magaly 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
(and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹
Dear Sanaa beautiful poetic expressions. ‘Like a flame at the end of a lipstick stained cigarette’
loved the poem but specially loved this line and the stark imagery reflected. Thanks for sharing your excellent work.
Thank you so much, Anjum 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Beautiful imagery captures the wariness that comes when we’re standing on the edge of a big change. Our minds can picture all sorts of outcomes, but in the end we need to find the way to flow through it all.
Thank you so much, Rommy 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
You really have some wonderful phrasings in this poem! I would have to quote several lines, but I will just say I enjoyed this very much. Thinking about October as a time of ‘transformation’ resonates and rings very true.
Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
I love that shortle sounding from the corridors of a distant dream! Some wonderful phrases and imagery in this one, Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
let October be as unspoken letters
– I like that image! and the bluer than twilight!
Thank you so much, Rajani 😀 so good to see you ❤️
Such captivating imagery and a great pace to this poem – like a wind
Thank you so much, Jae 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
This was just so beautiful to experience. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Samyuktha 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
A lovely epistle to your present self, Sanaa! I love the colours, the ‘sky bearing witness to words that form on paper’, and the lips paving the way for questions to engage in. My favourite lines:
‘it flutters
like a chortle sounding from the corridors
of a distant dream?’
Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
This is absolutely gorgeous Sanaa! So many beautiful images conjured up from every line!
Thank you so much, Carrie 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Indeed… we do have to change… if we don’t we are being changed anyway.
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
“a chortle sounding from the corridors of a distant dream” – how very taunting. And “I am the wind spiraling in every possible direction.” Sanaa, you are so good at characterizing in words feelings and experiences that then become incredibly real and palpable for your reader. Captivating!
Thank you so much, H. Hennenburg 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
The beginning of the poem resonated with a feeling of a new dawn the blues and golds. But there is a pitch here to me of reaching for sound and not quite capturing it. Instead “the soul being possessed centers upon / what shines the most” It is the light that is found most attractive.
Thank you so much, Lori 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
Give in to your transformation, Sanaa! A lovely epistle ❤️
Thank you so much, Vivian 😀 so good to see you ❤️
Love, love your last stanza–obedient as the flame at the end of a cigarette–your imagery is stunning!
Thank you so much, Audrey 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Powerful and nuanced images that delve into the process of transformation. I really feel strength in this poem.
Thank you so much, Wendy 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
great imagery, but i am truly blown away by the last stanza. Mesmerizing!
Thank you so much, Lee San 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️