For Dave
It is terribly difficult –
this writing to you directly,
without artifice,
often without elegance,
my sincerest expression
inconceivably you initiated contact
you thought I was speaking to you
through the persona in the poem
the last lines an invitation
saudade transmuting to volition
through the transformative power of art
nothing proved to be impossible
I wrote my way
into your inner sanctum
glyphs and inscriptions
lined the halls as
I danced to the compelling
beat of semiotic erotica
finding my voice
I revealed an intense need
you began speaking
to my secret self
I started falling
through the interstices
cryptically we whispered
our intricate natures
becoming co-conspirators
opening to true intimacy
the joys of specificity
of being at home in the world
belonging with you
evanescent desire evaporated
in the intensity of your sun
speciousness died
at the altar of your truth
I promise to forsake all others
I am not immersed in the confusion
of conflation, no inner conflict haunts
I know you are irreplaceable
our intimacy withstands,
infinitely renewing, come what may,
through the mantra of these vows
our love made manifest
This poem is posted for Meeting the Bar: Volition & Velleity. I decided to take my own challenge and rewrite a poem that expressed velleity (Saudade) and write one that illustrates volition. Dave and I will be married in the fall. My joy is unending.
cryptically we whispered
our intricate natures
becoming co-conspirators
opening to true intimacy
the joys of specificity
of being at home in the world
belonging with you….smiles i love that bit anna…and your devotion you speak of later as well…its a beautiful journey this love thing…and i think its really cool as well that in some way it was birthed through your art as well…you have a cool love story…
Anna, this is beautiful. So well said. I love the concept of saudade, and love how you worked it in here. As an aside–congrats!
opening to true intimacy
the joys of specificity
of being at home in the world
belonging with you
This is a wonderful description of love, the feeling of belonging together, at home, committed to each other. Great work, and my joyous congrats on your engagement!
Ohhhh!!! Love the poem Anna and I’m so incredibly happy for you!! oxoxoxo
class Anna. Lucky guy, lucky grl: the lucky couple I toast.
it’s dead tough to write a love poem without it getting icky
and i’m ick sensitive and reading this I felt nothing but heart bump
all the best to you both 🙂
I really loved this bit…
cryptically we whispered
our intricate natures
becoming co-conspirators
It so true together with the one you love you become co-conspirators in life… Congratulations on your engagement and wish you both every happiness.
BIG smiles…what a wonderful love poem anna…just imagine how it will be if you pull it out and re-read after 20 years of marriage or so… happy for you…smiles…and so cool that it started with a poem…very, very cool…
I, too, love how you used ‘saudade’ and ‘falling through the interstices; sounds like true love to me!
What a great poem, I had to google suadade, and it’s a great word to use, and how great to be able to reach another person through your poetry.
and of course congratulations.
Wow…this is so romantic and terribly exciting to think it was poetry that was the catalyst for your relationship. I cannot express enough joy and wish happiness to you both, especially since, today one of my regular visitors said that he thought if I had my heart trampled on that I would rip out the perpetrator’s heart with a fish knife.As you can imagine I am reeling but your lovely poem and news restores my faith in poets knowing it is just me that attracts the weirdos!
Wonderful and congratulations.
flooded with love sensations the whole while reading this. what an incredibly romantic way to meet each other, through words first. blessings abounding for you both.
Congratulations, on the marriage to Dave, and on this beautiful write!
What a lovely way to use your own prompt! And congratulations on your engagement. 🙂
Many best wishes, Anna. I’m posting my response to your prompt on OLN…