Once Touched

Love only truly touches us once. In this case the Norwegian beauty melted into the mists of the past.

She was the very image of love.

A woman so beautiful as to

cause time to stand motionless

in wonder.

 

To cause the breeze to cease

and bees to hover over nectar-filled plants

in total awe.

 

Indeed she caught my breath

with her blonde locks,

her green eyes,

and her soft, mature gravel voice

filled with the most incredible

life-changing poetry.

 

I stopped by the path

and peered over the fence

into that Eden of a garden

she carefully tends.

 

I cocked my head

and listened intently

to her story,

as if to eavesdrop on truth,

 

as if to garner

the way to her heart.

 

It was as if I watched Turner

apply oil to a canvas

in veils of suggestion,

in impressions of life

in all its amazing muted colour.

 

Half truths,

partial realities.

 

There she was.

Real yet in a mist

of flowing petticoats.

 

There she was

a siren calling me

to the sea

in a blanket of wet fog.

 

And I swam out

into that shark infested

ocean,

 

offered her all of me,

everything I am

and will ever be.

 

Yet still she held her ground,

refused to become more than

simply a spectre.

 

And I died and died and died,

 

and still now,

years of tears later,

she remains

the most majestic mystery

I will never solve.

 

30/08/20

Reviews

[Space]

Your poems are beautiful and it encouraged me to write more. It's completely and utterly wonderful to read a poem describe one person into a poem, and it really touched my heart.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Deanna. She was real, she is real!

[Fairy Khan]

The poem is so vivid, and beautiful.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much FKK!

[barleygirl]

I'm not into love poems, but yours is showing lots of originality, so it kept my interest. It starts out a little stilted & too-good-to-be-true in the first 3 stanzas -- "beautiful" & "incredible" two of my least favorite words, so over-used in love poetry. But after a rough start, your poem finds its wings & starts to fly very nicely & enjoyably, breaking free from the euphemistic bullshit that can be so typical for love poems. You do a great job of imbuing the imagery with a "sea theme" thru-out & also a strong build-up toward the end, to support your premise about "one love". I really feel this narrator's intensity of devotion (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah sorry to disappoint at the start. I guess we can all fall into the cliche trap from time to time. Glad it heated up though and glad you enjoyed. Thanks Margie!

[Ankita Dwivedi]

'half truths, partial realities ..'A wonderful story you have created with a sad but wonderful tinge to it ..I love the way you say 'offered her all of me, everything I am and will ever be.
thank you so much for sharing such wonderful poetry , sir .
Love, Ankita

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Ankita for such a kind review.

[Sami Khalil]

And you garnered our attention and appreciation in this wonderfully reminiscent tale with your uniquely wonderful style. Straight to the heart and minds of your readers. Glad to see you still around and writing sir John.

[Sami Khalil]

"voice

filled with the most incredible

life-changing poetry."

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many, many thanks!

[Sami Khalil]

Many, many welcomes.

[Sami Khalil]

"She was the very image of love.

A woman so beautiful as to

cause time to stand motionless

in wonder."

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Sami

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome.

[Ladysue]

A wonderfully told tale always has a lesson in it and your is just that. Think we all have been here in dissolution at least once in our lives. written with wisdom and good images. nicely done

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Lady Sue.

[Ladysue]

your welcome.. :)

[Inessa]

Well, some spectres are just untouchable. Especially green eyed ones! Women of great beauty have been confounding you menfolk for centuries, just like those sirens of mythology, seducing you to a fate worse than instant death. And so it appears here in your tale. We have all crashed and burned at the feet of an object of our fascination and affection. It's the way life is. We make choices and sometimes those choices are not in our favour.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so Inessa. Many thank yous!

[X]

I love it! so many delicious lines and images...each a world of its own...sorry for your death---better to have loved and died than not loved at all..:)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Kira. I have a few scars lol. I do agree that it is better to have experienced love although my construct of love has been reformed over the years.

[X]

That's a good thing...and a wise thing too:)