“There is a human wildness held beneath the skin.” – Arts, Jim Harrison
No one ever talks about the ache that dusk brings;
the most difficult conflict
that begs to be resolved between the heart
and head,
no, not really,
even though it’s known and felt
and experienced— like the tasting of forbidden fruit,
like wildfire,
savoring the flavour
more caustic than the darkness of vanta black.
I tire of windows and walkways,
longing
for hungrier thoughts that reside within his pulse—
one taste is never enough,
I realize as thulian pink slides down my throat,
there is a human wildness held underneath,
mysterious and brooding,
sometimes it smoulders, sculpted by the winter wind
for the things we want but cannot say—
ravage me without regard,
sing the song of the soul over and over again,
do people still adore each other nowadays?
I’d like that.
Inner demons seek to possess with their own kind
of gravity;
a searing touch that brands as its own,
wake me with fingertips trailing down
upon my skin,
be the reason I think of things all beautiful,
it’s much too easy to become lost in despair,
I am of the opinion that
forgetting you would be like swallowing up the sky,
silly and impossible,
and so I keep you close, my mind,
a collage,
of all your smiles and warmth seeping into—
several kinds of orchids grow here, with hellebores
under the shade of psyche,
how many times must we cross paths before
you become mine?
There is nothing more that I can say,
no one ever talks about the ache that dusk brings.
Photo credits: Close-up of Moth Orchids by Victor Candiani, Pexels.
Linda hosts at dVerse and invites us to write inspired by the work of Jim Harrison.
Come join us! 💝
Posted for Poetics: Songs of Unreason @dVerse Poets Pub
I think that the ache of dusk (love that connection) is the reminder of every saying goodbye, and though we meet in the morning again, the paths that constantly crosses is a reminder of that parting.
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Beautiful, Sanaa – I am swooning!
‘sometimes it smoulders, sculpted by the winter wind
for the things we want but cannot say—’
This makes my heart ache – great work, Sanaa ❤️
Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Beautifully painted, with the first and last line mirroring each other. Your reflections are filled with conflicting thoughts, both passionate and longing, but ever with the view of close connections.
Thank you so much, Grace 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Sanaa- without a doubt, one of your very best. It brought so much emotion, I’m all teary eyed.
Thank you so much, Linda 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
(and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹
such ache and longing in this poem – a brilliant turn on the quote (we chose the same but you found tenderness!)
“I am of the opinion that
forgetting you would be like swallowing up the sky,
silly and impossible,”
Thank you so much, Laura 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
What a powerfully poignant start….which I feel holds truth….this poem, if it were a dance, would be a tango, on a street in Buenos before darkening skies…I am learning that there is very much in the tango…if your poem were a film it would be Before the Rain, by Milcho Manchevski, which does not hold the sensuality and longing of the poem, but displays it in the cinematographic scenery, the abrupt background activity, like a recurring message that the circle is not round, though the film somehow completes a similar tour your poem does. I like your textured lines, but also the stark, simple ones..’I’d like that’ comes in just right. I am richer for reading good poetry.
Thank you so much, Ain 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
This is like a Pre-Raphaelite painting, languid and slightly exotic.
Thank you so much, Jane 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I love your first line…it just draws you in to the rest of the poem. Very nicely done!
Thank you so much, Christine 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
The longing is so intense those path crossing again and again
My favourite line:
“forgetting you would be like swallowing up the sky,”
Much love…
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Much love back..
Yearning is one of the great fires and it is tended by absence — all the ways the beloved is not here, ever. Really beautifully sculpted Sanaa.
how many times must we cross paths before
you become mine?
Thank you so much, Brendan 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I like how you began and ended with the same lines. Trying to forget someone who has “branded you with their touch” is indeed “silly and impossible.” I enjoyed your poem very much.
Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
That ache of wanting is bold and clear throughout.
Thank you so much, Ken 🙂 so glad the poem spoke to you 💄❤️
One of my favorite’s (and I have so many)! I really enjoyed every line but I feel the momentum builds towards the end and it just gets better and better! 👏👏
Thank you so much, Tricia 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
An ardent portrayal of that wild longing within the human heart that threatens to break out at dusk!
Thank you so much, Lynn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
This is a masterpiece, your musings at dusk really resonate with me.
Thank you so much, Mrityunjay 🙂 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Sanaa, this is a stunning piece. You know, honestly, when I saw that particular quote, I actually thought of you – no joke.
<3
David
Thank you so much, David 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Beautiful! I loved the line “No one ever talks about the ache that dusk brings”..it just echoes so loud… 😀
Thank you so much, Veera 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I almost chose the same line of poetry to work with, and I really enjoy where you took this. A wonderful write, as with so much of your poetry you manage to sink deeper than the surface.
Thank you so much, Carol 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
A beautiful sensory poem, Sanaa, awash with imagery. I especially love the final stanza <3
Thank you so much, my dearest Sunra 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Few talk about a lot of things. These layers are delicate and fragile like petals or butterfly wings. Simply lovely! And you gave me the word I have been looking for I once had and lost. Vantage. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Jane said it well … a longing mournful reflection
Thank you so much, Kate 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Sighs for weeks … another stunning and ever so sensuously erotic poem and to top it off, about my most favorite time of the day … dusk.
Thank you so much, my dearest Helen 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Wow. Sanaa, so sensual and full of longing. Love this opening and ending line: ‘No one ever talks about the ache that dusk brings’.
Thank you so much, Marion 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
The ache and longing is so palpable, Sanaa! Such a stunning piece, if I begin to quote my favourite line then I will be quoting the entire poem. ❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad the poem spoke to you 💄❤️
Poignant, beautiful.
Thank you so much, Shay 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
“I am of the opinion that
forgetting you would be like swallowing up the sky,
silly and impossible,
and so I keep you close, . . .”
Just one phrase out of many that caught me. Beautiful, Sanaa!