On Romantic Poetry

Not everything in the garden is all roses!

If a poet writes

of falling in love

it may simply be a notion,

an idea, a fragment

of all the emotions

they have ever felt,

melded.

 

A simple perception

of what adoration

might look and feel like.

 

A projection of judgments

gathered like autumn leaves

from the earth

where other's hearts

have lain,

in warm and cultivated beds,

or upon frozen

stony ground,

or wedged between rocks,

or stuck in cast-iron

boot scrapers,

or simply swirling

in the wind.

 

The poet collects them all,

different colours

and shapes

and sizes and

places them in

a compost bin

to mulch down.

 

There they rot

and mix

until they are ready

to be spread upon

the pages of a

fertile mind.

 

04/11/20

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right John.
"There they rot
and mix
until they are ready
to be spread upon
the pages of a
fertile mind."
Hemingway had his Agnes and Dante had his Beatrice. Salinger girl got marry when he was fighting a war. Writers need to taste the dirt. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed my well read friend. Thank you for taking time out to read this.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome John.

[Chris Shaw]

You know I have always found romantic poetry the most difficult to attempt. They always turn out too slushy, so I don't bother. This poem is so well written. You are right, not everything in the garden is always roses for some unlucky in love. Out there today making leaf mould. Plenty in the compost heap.My roses are always fine though. Like the metaphor you have used here John.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yup me too. Daily leaf sweeping round these parts just to keep up. Many thanks Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Plenty left as well for the rest of lockdown :)

[Kari Rakitan]

That is indeed an interesting way to experience love. It reminds me of something from the Handmaid's Tale - the novel by Margaret Atwood, not the TV or movie thing that got released recently. I haven't seen the screen version of it, only read the book.

Here's a partial quote:
“One and one and one and one doesn't equal four. Each one remains unique, there is no way of joining them together. They cannot be exchanged, one for the other. They cannot replace each other.”

The rest of that passage I remember was about how it is four to a man, but not to a woman.

To me, they are each a shining jewel in my mind's eye. They are all unique, but when you've collected as many as I have, you notice that some have the same shape, size, or color. Some look even more beautiful when admired as a set. One is broken beyond repair, and thus I treasure all the ones who still shine brightly in my memories.

I've always loved that song!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Kari, Yes indeed some are the same. Love the quote and that you like the song. Many thanks.

[Nicole]

This is why I love poetry so much and I appreciate the souls who write them because everyone is so different. Perspective is so fascinating. I love the hearts of poets. Thank you for sharing!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes I too love the difference Nicole and indeed perspective and construct and emotion are such drivers of poetry. Many thanks for reading and leaving your mark.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I can relate to this...all of my love poems now are based on imaginings....
or what was once felt intensely....but then all of my sadder poems are based on the past...
conjuring up feelings of back then.
lots of back then...
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess when you get to our ages that is what we feed on. At least we have those memories and experiences to draw upon. Many thanks yous as always Jacob.