A scarlet shadow

 Iced fingers pierce my skin through my sweater, as a cold blanket drapes the earth and sea.  This fog brushes my face and halts my heart.  I wander weakly to my room and rest on the floor.

     In tranquil serenity I cease to stir. I close my eyes...

 

Placid visions etched on canvas:

winded fire;

perpetual disarray.

The sky; a stroke of amber and turquoise.

The sea; pools of jade and jasper.

The sweet smell of rose and summer.

 

     Light brushed alabaster-feather clouds seem to dance in the tranquil sky. Against the backdrop of earth and heaven her figure rests.  All sound becomes silence.

     Her hair, with strokes of ebony and auburn, cascades down her neck and across her soft shoulders. Her eyes are shaded olive with a single tear, and on her cheeks, lightly brushed ruddy tones.

     I see her here in eternal serenity; at distance from fear or pain.  At a distance, it seems, from life.

     Her crimson lips rise in delight at the vision her eyes behold; a golden glow of shifting stillness. The sun’s brilliance seems immortal, but beyond her vision a darkness comes.

 

Dark streaks of ink rape the sky of light.

Her yet smiling eyes cannot behold the sudden sight.

It becomes a challenge, a test of the will;

can you be content just standing still?

 

     In the darkness there seems to stand a scarlet shadow; the wandering specter of the sea.  At this a crack of thunder peals, and the sea swallows the night. 

 

     I open my eyes...

Author's Note

From chapter six of "An owl on the moon”… June

Reviews

[Mrudula Rani]

"Can you be content just standing stil? ... When gratitude fills my heart, when beauty of your poetry overwhelms my senses, I can't help but stand still!
You paint spectacular images with your wonderful words, and I feel my words are limited in expressing my appreciation of your poetry.
Oi querido amigo, tudo bem? suas palavras lindas dará sempre uma sensação boa, adoro ler suas poesias.
Espero que tudo está ótimo com você. Tenha uma grande semana repleta de muitas felicidades. Uma grande abraço.

[An owl on the moon]

It gives me such joy when you read my words, to sense how you understand all their colors. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and time with me. I hope you are doing so well in this new week. Eu estou indo muito bem. Como você está, amiga preciosa? Estou tão feliz que você compartilhe sua poesia comigo. Enviando-lhe esses desejos para a vida e dar-lhe asas para a sua semana. E um milhão de abraços!

[Mrudula Rani]

Você sempre diz a coisas mais lindas, adoro falar com você. Uma abraço grande.

[An owl on the moon]

Sua presença é uma doce alegria na minha vida, minha querido poeta.

[Mrudula Rani]

Obrigada . Você é uma amor.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear 🦉 Owl.. I love the colors and moods of the sea and sky... the feelings of the lady are beautifully wrought... poetry in motion as the sea swallows the night. truly, Pat

[An owl on the moon]

Thank you so much, Pat. It is wondrous to see the owl in your words, and to feel as well your depth of understanding. How I miss the sea!

[Patricia Wedel]

dear 🦉 we have the Rappahannock River running through Fredericksburg, Virginia USA with rapids ... like a symphony of moods in motion.

[An owl on the moon]

Now that sounds like a glorious music to be sure. :)

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Beautiful-standing still surrenders to all there is and allows us to experience the beauty of the beautiful- becoming one the deepest part - appreciation of splendour only to experienced by the heart in the deepest parts- wonderful powerful yet gentle and soft - tears of total bliss and wonder- wonderful words like always🌹

[An owl on the moon]

So thankful to be reading your words. Here at dawn, the sun awakening the world, and your words such comfort... such joy. May your new week be filled with that beautiful wonder of the soul dear poet.

[‘Thoughts In Time’🌹]

And may it be returned joyfully to you a thousandfold- all things good and kind loving and true🌹

[An owl on the moon]

Thank you for such wondrous blessings. :)