White Gloves

Faded moonlight and

twinkling lights strung between

posts frame the glorious

youth shucking off the

patina of childhood.

Like lustrous pearls

they gleam with the

polish of promised

paths paved in optimism.

Naïveté

brimming with bravado

sweeps across the dance

floor in a crescendo of

lives not yet lived;

Oh to be them once more!

Where the future awaits
like a proud mother

and the cold hand

of disappointment remains

strategically gloved.

Reviews

[Luna Evangeline]

This is certainly one of the best poems about youth that I've read so far. Your insightful tone as you observe these not-children-not-quite-adults is marvelous. It's the truth; youth is here and gone in the blink of an eye, and those flamboyant teenage dreams will have to be abandoned in order to face the cold tundra of adulthood.

I enjoyed the tiny tidbit of foreign language that you used (although I have no idea what the language is...). Overall that second to last stanza was my favorite, probably because you described a teenager's energy and confidence there like I've never seen before.

I'll tell you the same thing that I tell everyone...I am not a poet. Nor am I a very good poetry reviewer. But I always try my hardest to give a thorough review. Some are longer, if I have more to say, and some are shorter, simply because I don't have much of an opinion.

Anyway, if my interpretation of your poetry is ever miles off the mark, I apologize. It happens often, so do be warned.

You're a great poet, and I enjoyed this first impression. Well done!

[icelandicblue]

I am impressed by your thoughtful review and I think your interpretation is spot on. I thank you so very much for your kind and positive feedback. I read your story Ballet and I found that you my friend are a fantastic writer. It is good to meet you and I look forward to reading more of your work. Welcome!

[Luna Evangeline]

Nice to meet you as well :)

[Sarah]

this give the feeling of the yerning to be youthfull to be once more a child,the desire of making choises, the thing of being protected most of life untill they break free. well done.

[rhythm&blues]

This is impressive, one of my favorite poems so far.

[Aethereal]

This is a very insightful poem, one that every teenager should read. I don’t believe that Naiveté has ever been creatively personified before as someone who forcefully dances across the floor empowered by “lives not yet lived“ , a “crescendo“. Very good! I’m studying how you use language if you don’t mind. You personified the future too.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you once again for your in depth review. I only recently realized how much I use personification. It seems to be something that I just do without much forethought. I appreciate your time and effort.

[Aethereal]

With me everything is forethought because I'm always analyzing how, and why I do the things. Your mind is on automatic control. Most people don't know what move them to do the thing that they do.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

I love this and I hate it at the same time. I love it for the picture that you paint of naive, carefree youth. I KNOW that state. But I hate this poem for the puddle of mortality that it shoves me into. This poem brings to mind the terrifying speed of the years (hummm is that the seed of some poem?) and it reminds me of that hideous old man in the mirror.

[icelandicblue]

I love that you can feel the duality of the poem in your bones. Time flies even when you are not having fun. Thanks for that review! You never disappoint.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

I get what you write ... well I get something from it. I always feel it.

[Zahra]

Very nicely crafted, the imagery's beautiful as well. Thanks for sharing.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks for reading.

[ChemicalMadness]

I envision the youth you've laid out before us here to be standing, toes dangling over the back steps overlooking one of jay Gatsbys parties, mouths not agape but rather, smugly satisfied with what appears to be another. cool. party. The tingle they feel is not anticipation, but rather the embrace of 'this night'. Little do they know these parties do not last and cannot be captured on camera phone and memories cannot be tagged and posted. They can be lived, though.

The first three stanzas really sparkled for me.

CM

[icelandicblue]

Thank you for your sparkling review. : )

[Jack...]

Blue, you have tapped into our minds and revealed thoughts we try to hide from others. To be at that point in life again where a step in any direction carves out our future, or to watch our children standing at that threshold preparing to take the leap. Very nice.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Jack, your reviews are always a pleasure.

[redflutterby]

Oh to be on the verge of adulthood again!! Such a poignant moment that we don't really appreciate till we are well beyond it!! Once again you write with such delicate beauty and precise style! Love this.. ;-)

[icelandicblue]

Hi Red! Thanks so much. It's always nice to see you.

[Angi]

Perfect description of that in~between~time. No longer a small child and not yet an adult, either. When you fear nothing, when all seems so possible. I remember that feeling well! Lovely poem!

[icelandicblue]

Hello! Thanks so much for your comment. It does seem like yesterday.

[Sami Khalil]

A marvelous poem indeed...:)

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much!

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)