Thursday, July 25, 2019

Like starry blooms on a new firmament in July ~


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!๐ŸŒป

18 comments:

Sandi said...

"A butterfly cooing like a dove"

Be still. It is hard to do, but there is a reward.
Love this line and the image it evokes!

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Sandi; Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Thursday!๐Ÿ’ž☕

Lori said...

Still thinking. I've got one for this.

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Lori; Looking forward to reading your poetic response! Happy Thursday!๐Ÿ’ž☕

Jim said...

A 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.
..

Margaret said...

Thank you - I started five different poems - took me a while. I will be back in the morning to visit and comment.

Jim said...

Oops, Neruda's Valparaiso, Chile, home.
..

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Jim; Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed the prompt!๐Ÿ’ž☕

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Margaret; Thank you so much, heading over to read you!!๐Ÿ’ž☕

robkistner said...

Late to the party this time. Lost yesterday to the family celebrating my wife’s return after a month in Ohio caregiving for her sister.

Susie Clevenger said...

Beautiful poem Sanaa...Thank you for the lovely prompt

Revived Writer said...

I'm even later than you to the party, Rob, but at least we both showed up. :)

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Susie; Thank you so much, so glad you liked it. Heading over to read you ๐Ÿ’ž☕

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Rob and Revived writer; It's never too late to write a poem for my challenge, thank you so much for participating ๐Ÿ’ž☕

Linda Lee Lyberg said...

Hello Sanaa and Everyone! Some lovely words here! I am working on something- when does the link close please?

robkistner said...

I 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...

Sanaa Rizvi said...

@Linda; That’s awesome! ๐Ÿ’ž You can link up anytime you want as the Linky doesn’t expire ๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜

Linda Lee Lyberg said...

Good Morning all- I have added mine this morning! Happy Saturday!