Stillness. There are so many ways to describe it. Something that stretches itself to the most distant mountain-top, where footsteps crunch in the snow or a phenomenon that can match blackness under the blindfold. But Neruda in his poem had a completely different and unique perspective:
I Like For You To Be Still
I like for you to be still
It is as though you are absent
And you hear me from far away
And my voice does not touch you
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
And it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth
As all things are filled with my soul
You emerge from the things
Filled with my soul
You are like my soul
A butterfly of dream
And you are like the word: Melancholy
I like for you to be still
And you seem far away
It sounds as though you are lamenting
A butterfly cooing like a dove
And you hear me from far away
And my voice does not reach you
Let me come to be still in your silence
And let me talk to you with your silence
That is bright as a lamp
Simple, as a ring
You are like the night
With its stillness and constellations
Your silence is that of a star
As remote and candid
I like for you to be still
It is as though you are absent
Distant and full of sorrow
So you would've died
One word then, One smile is enough
And I'm happy;
Happy that it's not true
Our frame of reference is the title of Neruda's poem. Choose your own form or write in free verse, if preferred. I look
forward to reading what you guys come up with. Please do visit others
and remember to comment on their poems. Have fun!🌻
"A butterfly cooing like a dove"
ReplyDeleteBe still. It is hard to do, but there is a reward.
Love this line and the image it evokes!
@Sandi; Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Thursday!💞☕
ReplyDeleteStill thinking. I've got one for this.
ReplyDelete@Lori; Looking forward to reading your poetic response! Happy Thursday!💞☕
ReplyDeleteA fun starting line. Thanks, Sanaa, for posting this one. Neruda is on my contemporary poet list under Oliver and Ken Kooser. I'd like to have studying under one of those. Kooser is at my home state alma mater, U of Nebraska. And we visited Neruda's Peru haunts and mountain top home in 2016.
ReplyDelete..
Oops, Neruda's Valparaiso, Chile, home.
Delete..
Thank you - I started five different poems - took me a while. I will be back in the morning to visit and comment.
ReplyDelete@Jim; Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed the prompt!💞☕
ReplyDelete@Margaret; Thank you so much, heading over to read you!!💞☕
ReplyDeleteLate to the party this time. Lost yesterday to the family celebrating my wife’s return after a month in Ohio caregiving for her sister.
ReplyDeleteI'm even later than you to the party, Rob, but at least we both showed up. :)
DeleteBeautiful poem Sanaa...Thank you for the lovely prompt
ReplyDelete@Susie; Thank you so much, so glad you liked it. Heading over to read you 💞☕
ReplyDelete@Rob and Revived writer; It's never too late to write a poem for my challenge, thank you so much for participating 💞☕
ReplyDeleteHello Sanaa and Everyone! Some lovely words here! I am working on something- when does the link close please?
ReplyDeleteI visited every poet’s site, and read every poem. Unfortunately, most of the Blogger sites would not let me post a comment!? Sorry. Frustration continues...
ReplyDelete@Linda; That’s awesome! 💞 You can link up anytime you want as the Linky doesn’t expire 😘😘
ReplyDeleteGood Morning all- I have added mine this morning! Happy Saturday!
ReplyDelete