January is as January does

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 thoughts on “January is as January does

  1. 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,”

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Laura 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

      (and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹

  2. Bjorn Rudberg says:

    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

    1. Sanaa says:

      Aww gosh! Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad you liked it! 💄❤️

  3. Rod E. Kok says:

    Reading your words inspired me to write my own. Thank you!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rod 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  4. 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! ❣️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Tricia 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  5. 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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      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 💄❤️

  6. 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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Carol 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  7. msjadeli says:

    January takes a whole new meaning on in your poem. Passion is for those who feel its season.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  8. rob kistner says:

    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!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rob 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  9. K.Hartless says:

    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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, K. Hartless 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  10. Ain Starlingsson says:

    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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ain 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  11. Veera says:

    A wonderful and (from what I’ve read so far) original way of portraying January! I loved this poem <3

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Veera 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  12. Ingrid says:

    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! ❤️❤️❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  13. 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,

    Well, Sanaa, I think you just crossed the ‘genius’ line. And, BTW, I love your sensual poems – you go!

    <3
    David

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, David 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  14. Marion Horton says:

    ‘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. ❤

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Marion 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  15. Punam says:

    Your melodies can never be caged! We need more voices like you. Bravo, Sanaa! ❤️❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      You made my day! Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  16. Mary Hood says:

    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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  17. 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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  18. Gillena Cox says:

    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…

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

      Much love back..

  19. D. Avery says:

    Such a strong poem of a strong woman perhaps, making her way and having her say.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, D. Avery 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  20. Bev Crawford says:

    Strength and determination speak throughout.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Beverly 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  21. lillian says:

    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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Lillian 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

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