What is the word for when people glance as they pass
see it empty and give a sigh?
His dark hair reaches the tailored shoulders of his blue blazer
left stylishly open over a crisp white shirt
standing amongst the crowd in a corner, you can tell he’s bored
his long limbs straight and his head held high,
there are stories hidden in the pupils of his eyes,
stories of war, of death, of trauma and love that have been passed down.
A vacuum of desire that cannot easily be filled,
burns inside his chest as outside the sky is caressed by rain
to others a stranger, to me an embodiment of art
I wonder what fresh burden he harbors inside his heart?
The dance floor is a map of yesteryear’s defeats and triumphs,
and God watches on as we reveal our cards
craving the scent of his showered skin, I sway along with other dancers,
hiding behind masks of emotional armour.
Photo credits: Pinterest
Posted on Weekend Mini-Challenge @ Real Toads
Also posting on Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
Oh those masks of emotional armour – so self-defeating. I enjoyed the tempo of this delicate waltz.
Thank you so much, Kerry 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
I like the image of seeing the dance floor as a map
Thank you so much, Larry 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
That’s an interesting question to begin your portrait, Sanaa, and it’s left me wanting to find out the answer. I like the close detail of your subject’s clothes and attitude, and I love the thought of the ‘stories hidden in the pupils of his eyes’. I also love the line:
‘The dance floor is a map of yesteryear’s defeats and triumphs’,
which gives me the impression that your subject is a Casanova.
Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
(and thank you for the lovely prompt) 🌹
A fanciful portrait spun from scant evidence. Well done, Kim. I’m intrigued by the first line, but wonder what “it” is that they find empty. Is it the answering glance from the person they pass? “There are stories hidden in the pupils of his eyes.”–wonderful line.
Oops.. I mean Sanna. I had just read Kim’s comment and her name was in my head. I am talking about your poem, however!!
🙂
Thank you so much, Judy 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
I really love the idea of emotions being an armor. Too many see emotions as weakness–something I completely disagree with.
Thank you so much, Magaly 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
This feels like something from an Austen novel. An aloof young man, too caught up in himself to notice there’s someone noticing *him*. I think it will take more than one dance to find the chinks in the emotional armor.
Thank you so much, Rommy 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
‘His dark hair reaches the tailored shoulders of his blue blazer left stylishly open over a crisp white shirt’ .. I also thought of Jane Austin and went into kind of a trance. Wouldn’t it have been lovely to have had a glance? Beautiful write.
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Nice description, Sanaa. I have three words felt from your tale. But not just one. “I Miss Him.”
..
Thank you so much, Jim 😀 so good to see you ❤️
Sigh…would love to follow this along a bit further, feels like an epic hiding in plain sight.
Thank you so much, Chrissa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
I love this… it seems from a time long ago while you still met in places like this … make me think of Jane Austen
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Fresh burdens. That is really a great phrase.
Thank you so much, Marian 😀 so good to see you ❤️
He is mysterious. I love the stories hidden in his eyes. To know him, the narrator might need to lower her armour. Smiles.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
We never know—do we?—the burdens others harbor in their heart.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, MMT ❤️
A richly painted scene, makes me want to meet him in person. Did you conjure a character?
Thank you so much, Colleen 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Ah, hiding between masks of emotional armour – I really think you have set the scene well. A poem of mystery and perhaps intrigue.
Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Luv the distraction of the dancer as she waltzes, lost in thought. Nice one Sanaa
Thanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday
Much💙love
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Much🌻🌷🌹love
Liked the scene you created. So many wear some sort of mask.
Elizabeth
https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2009/01/24/bear-seasons/
Thank you so much, Elizabeth 😀 so good to see you ❤️
Love those ‘stories hidden in the pupils of his eyes’ … wonderful line (a gal might get lost in there) ~ smiles ~ As always: a beautiful piece of writing!
Thank you so much, Wendy 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
A beautiful narrative of an equally beautiful man.
Thank you so much, Vivian 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
As we grow older we become far more experienced in the war of love as we then better armed with gentle words of persuasion rather than acts of bravado, leaving no doubt of ones sincerity and trustworthyness. I really enjoyed your entertaining write Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Robin 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Wow! I guess everyone wears emotional armor, some thicker than others.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Sara ❤️