Shattered

I dropped the mirror and shattered my dreams.

The stars fell into a river of stone.

The wet grass glistened in fractured moonbeams

in evergreen groves that gathered alone.

The silence anchored in shadow and tear.

Layers of longing flaked off the pine

like breathless words whispered into my ear

or summer breeze blowing clothes on the line.

A sweet ache echoed, unfolded on wing,

summoned my soul with a secret to tell,

and bid me to let my captive heart sing

beyond the gardens of heaven and hell.

A blue mist spilling my senses to steal

shrouded the mountain like a turban twist

or a veil which beckoned with great appeal

on the face of a bride as yet unkissed.

There is space that nothing can ever fill,

a yearning so deeply grafted to bone.

Dead petals may fall and teardrops distill.

I might feel lonely but never alone.

For all of the past, I can say I tried.

The old love letters are gathering dust;

and a poet’s nib spills into the tide

as eyes grow dim and are consumed with rust.

Farewell to the shadow that never parts,

to the half-blown promise to never be,

to the flame that burns within tender hearts

whose ashes are scattered in memory.

The whirlwind its whispers will never cease.

A love its sorrows will forever be,

and a sigh will always seek sweet release

and lamentations find comfort at sea.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Tony Jordan]

Gorgeous imagery and splendid wordcraft here.
A delight for the senses and the soul.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Tony. It's nice to meet someone new.

[Tony Jordan]

Ditto Linda...ditto.
:)

[Richard🖌]

Goodness-ME!
So beautifully palpable and hauntingly sad, Linda, but such a promising verse to new found love, as-well.
Resist believing the omen to 7-years of bad luck.
In my world, the mirror is the lover from whom our dreams are reflected into our hearts … hah! Listen to me, the big philosopher, as if I know anything.
What I know for certain, though, is how tenderly deep the longing emotions dancing in and out through your skillfully-rendered, breath-filled words embraced me.
Simply put, your poetry brings alive many places within I did not know could be touched merely by word.

Stunned again, and ever-so gratefully happy to be, Linda Marie! ⁓ Richard : )

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Richard. I honestly never know where a poem will take me. Sometimes it blossoms. Sometimes its petals fall and wither away. Sometimes I'm digging in the soil just searching for a seedling, anything to grow. You grace me with kindness in every review, and I am very appreciative, more than you'll ever know.

Bless you,

Linda Marie

[Richard🖌]

A gentle warmth of kindness, inspired by Thee …
for, in your poetry, my depth is bared.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

such a haunting mood here, feels like a very old movie---a tragic love story---or when love could have happened but tragedy struck...makes me think a bit of Wake of the Red Witch...

and after all the commotion of waves of feeling, there is just the leftover calm...the stillness like a glassy pond that once rippled with life.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Jacob. I had to look "Wake of the Red Witch" up, having no idea what it was. John Wayne was a bit before my time; and of the few movies I've caught glimpses of, I just never could understand what all the hype was about. He just never struck me in any outstanding way when it came to acting. I love the title of the movie though. :-) You always introduce me to something new with different points of reference. Thank you.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah yes, John Wayne (the Duke_---he has charisma, sure, but i never thought he was worth a salt as an actor...some of his older films that weren't westerns like "wake" he was pretty good...but almost always overstated..the one film i thought he was really really good in was "The shootist"---
i think he did his best there...he was no Cooper, or Stewart, or Tracy...

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Whew! I was fearful my words would be anathema, worthy of a shoot out. LOL! (Have I ever mentioned that you look like Michael McDonald?) :-)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that is so funny you said that....1986, standing in line at Comiskey Park in Chicago for a Yanks/ Sox game with some of my best friends...the girl behind me in line suddenly looks at me and blurts out "Michael McDonald..."
first time anyone told me that...first time...then..5 minutes later the guy who took my ticket says "Michael McDonald" ha ha..
and since then, yes, many many people have said that...i can see the resemblance...odd thing is i cannot stand his voice...loved the Doobie Brothers but none of the songs with him as lead singer..i liked Tom Johnson lead singing..

i have also gotten Kenny Rogers and Jerry Garcia..but don't really see either of them..

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

That's funny. Like you, I don't see Kenny Rogers or Jerry Garcia, God forbid! Michael was always such a pleasure to look at though, he didn't need to sing. :-) He could just stand there.