Kaleidoscope Sighs

Twisting and turning the lens of attraction

Speak to me in roses

In lift and sigh

Wrap me in milkweed

And bright kisses

Take the tartness I offer

For copper and striped silk

Bring me cunning boxes

Ships made of spices and sugar

A tattered and tumbled stone

Set in promises of fragrant cedar

Find in me treasures of chocolate

Stitches of color and washed linen

Made with sacred hands

Come to me with roots of iron

And clocked wings rustling

Beckon my gifts

In the blue wake of midnight as

I find alignment in the toss and turn

Of better skies

 

-Zoe Richardson (2021)

Author's Note

Thank you for reading and eavesdropping on my therapy!

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Normally I love your writing style for being out of the blue & unexpected. But in this case, I find your rampant grabbing of ideas & images to be more abstract than I have the ability to piece together. Maybe more connective tissue for the plodding reader like me (((HUGS)))

[Zoe Richardson]

My apologies. It is really a collection of contrasting or colliding images. Its like a Psalm, or a passage in the Song of Solomon, but turned on its ear. At its heart, it's a woman asking for her love to give her the unusual and the complicated or difficult gifts, while finding those same things in her. Or maybe it's just a mishmash cooked up in my bipolar brain. I'm good with either.

[barleygirl]

I am also bipolar & I love it for what it contributes to my writing *wink! wink!*

[shadrach hah]

Hi Zoe, a miasma of images, a kaleidoscope of colours that merge together in such strong impressions. A journey through descriptive words, painting such wonderful lines and painting such strong images in the mind. Feelings can be such a Kaleidoscope of colour. Have a wonderful evening. Hugs always....Mike.

[Zoe Richardson]

I love that! "A kaleidoscope of color." Once again, you offer me a greater gift than I gave you. Thank you for your kindness and consideration, and for your always thoughtful review.

[shadrach hah]

Hi Zoe, you are always welcome, You offered the greater gift by far through your Kaleidoscope of painted thoughts. Your words had deep meaning. Have a wonderful Friday. Hugs always....Mike.

[R.J Calzonetti (Siniste..]

I enjoyed this, thank you for sharing.

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you, kind sir! And thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your taking the time to read and comment.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Oh oh wow 🤩 this is glorious I love it

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you! I was starting to think maybe I missed the mark and got a little too abstract. It is wonderful to have reached you with my efforts!

[Patricia Wedel]

Whoa !!! you are quite the Artist of Poetry.
The colors and ambience has me enjoying the
colors of Autumn. Prayerfully, Pat

[Zoe Richardson]

That is so kind of you to say! I am really glad you enjoyed this and chose to stop by.

[Gee]

Perhaps I'm thick( probably) but I have not the slightest clue to what this poem, collection of words, is hinting at, saying.
Haven't used a kaleidoscope since I was 7/8 years old...a long time ago :))

[Zoe Richardson]

It's a plea from the loved one for her lover to find the unusual, the rare, both for her and in her. To not be satisfied with the ordinary and commonplace, or to be lukewarm and complacent. It's also something my bipolar brain cooked up when bored, so it could just be an exercise in compare and contrast gone horribly awry.

[Gee]

How does bipolar affect you Zoe?

[Zoe Richardson]

It affects my judgment, mostly. And my sleep. Sometimes I have mood swings, but they are fairly well controlled with medication. Some days it doesn't affect me at all, and others I am too much in my mind. It's given me genius along with madness, though. For that, I am grateful.

[Gee]

Thank you for explaining :)

[Shelley Warner]

That was very visual. I especially liked the line, "wrap me in milkweed". I went on a nature walk one time and took some close up photos of a milkweed opening up. Years later, I planted milkweed in my yard as a gift to butterflies. Your line brought back those memories. Your poem also invokes smell like "set in promises of fragrant cedar" and taste like "treasures of chocolate".

[Zoe Richardson]

I was hoping it would be a feast for the senses. The visual wrapped in touch and taste and smell. Those are just as important as what we see. I'm glad you understood this!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Really well done. You bring ti life how we cannot find rthme or reason why we are drawn more towards one person, especially when they are so different then you. I like this a lot.

[Zoe Richardson]

And how we cannot explain what we want others to bring to us. Its so multifaceted, both ways. I'm glad you liked this and I thank you for your thoughts.

[Weeping willow]

Such a beautiful write, I felt every word, loved the flow and the emotions running through it ;-]

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank You! I am so glad you enjoyed it and took the time to comment.