I suppose it’s meant to be;
a honeyed voice both seductive and whispery
seeking to embellish the truth
with its own ideas,
as though music, as though ebony sky
trailing fingertips across my skin,
had I known the coming decade could
bring me this,
would forsake all thought of linking arms
with dolor— it’s such a silly thing to do
when we can easily walk barefoot
on the concrete,
all the while feeling the heat escape,
but oh, I realize now that I couldn’t have known.
Like a lustful release drenched in dark sin
are desires,
prohibited to a woman choosing to pen them
down, why so?
Are we not human?
Are we not bound to feel what eligible men
of the society feel merely on whim?
My heart seethes as the grey ocean
knowing this to be the norm;
read this as many times as you need to,
if we have to beg
we are simply wasting our time,
I say savor each morsel,
read poetry of the soul wrapped in dark
and light,
and seize hold of your fate if need be—
listen to the clamour of centuries,
and tell me,
what good comes out of caging melodies?
My lips no longer quiver with the deep secret of him.
Photo credits: Pinterest
Chosen words: Quiver, honeyed, seethe, embellish, clamour.
Laura hosts at dVerse and invites us to write either a Sound poem or to simply write about the Thesaurus. Come join us! 💝
Posted for Poetics: The Poet’s Store House @dVerse Poets Pub
42 Responses
love how you slipped in the sounds imperceptibly and go sizzling beneath the surface with this poem. Phew!
“when we can easily walk barefoot
on the concrete,
all the while feeling the heat escape,”
Thank you so much, Laura 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
(and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹
This is really one of your best poems ever… so filled with emotion describing unfairness even in dreams and in words. Those two last lines really say it all… no never cage the melodies
Aww gosh! Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad you liked it! 💄❤️
Reading your words inspired me to write my own. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Rod 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Definitely one of your best! I love this line, “My heart seethes as the grey ocean knowing this to be the norm” it’s so visceral! ❣️
Thank you so much, Tricia 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
For the first time, our poetics were on similar planes; such joy. I, of course, speak low and hoarse when I speak love, and you light up the lines with honeyed fireworks, and erotic pauses.
Yes! 💄❤️ I just returned from reading your poem and thought the same thing 😀 What absolute joy indeed! Thank you so much, Glenn 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I kept reading “My heart seethes as the grey ocean” as “my heart seethes, a grey ocean”. Either way I think it captures that dark, powerful strength of an storm swept ocean, and the force of emotion that can be contained in someone.
Thank you so much, Carol 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
January takes a whole new meaning on in your poem. Passion is for those who feel its season.
Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Your work is always both honest and sensual Sanaa.
Are we not human?
Are we not bound to feel what eligible men
of the society feel merely on whim?
Yes you certainly are, and more power to you my friend!
Thank you so much, Rob 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Delightful. My favorite image, ‘what good comes out of caging melodies’ as if these different combinations are wild animals not meant for the zoo of our pages.
Thank you so much, K. Hartless 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
I agree with Bjorn…so much, even if I have not been at dverse as long. Each time I read this I am moved closer to tears — I am the father of 3 daughters. This is such a powerful, beautiful …melody, call, imploring with such passion. I really believe if I read once more or more I will be brought to tears, and in that, I am finally learning what poetry can do.
Thank you so much, Ain 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
A wonderful and (from what I’ve read so far) original way of portraying January! I loved this poem <3
Thank you so much, Veera 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
This is brilliant, Sanaa:
‘are desires,
prohibited to a woman choosing to pen them
down, why so?
Such a valid question. Men do it so casually, but it seems women are always judged for writing of their heart’s desires. I say, do it anyway: Brava, Sanaa! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Well, Sanaa, I think you just crossed the ‘genius’ line. And, BTW, I love your sensual poems – you go!
<3
David
Thank you so much, David 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
‘Savor each morsel’ indeed! Love this poem trumpeting freedom to write and read as we wish. You’ve woven in your chosen words seamlessly too. ❤
Thank you so much, Marion 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Your melodies can never be caged! We need more voices like you. Bravo, Sanaa! ❤️❤️
You made my day! Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
These words reverberate through me.
if we have to beg
we are simply wasting our time,
I say savor each morsel,
read poetry of the soul wrapped in dark
and light,
and seize hold of your fate if need be—
listen to the clamour of centuries,
and tell me,
what good comes out of caging melodies?
My lips no longer quiver with the deep secret of him.
Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Beautifully done, Sanaa. I love the reflection and the enlightenment found in this poem, that stirs the soul to take a stand and live life free and independent of cultural restrictions archaic and long past usefulness.
Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
You cut to the chase with this one. Aren’t we humans too? Indeed we are so our lips quivering is just unfair
Nice one Sanaa
Much love…
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Much love back..
Such a strong poem of a strong woman perhaps, making her way and having her say.
Thank you so much, D. Avery 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Strength and determination speak throughout.
Thank you so much, Beverly 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Wow! You’ve made your case….most especially in these last lines:
“listen to the clamour of centuries,
and tell me,
what good comes out of caging melodies?
My lips no longer quiver with the deep secret of him.”
Sadly, from the beginning of time when Eve was labelled the seductress, these differences of acceptability have endured.
Thank you so much, Lillian 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️