Teach Me To Whisper

Teach me to whisper like early-morn blush

against the cheek of the illumined sky,

like the green blades of grass beside the rush

of the river that is hastening by.

Teach me the love that is found in a rose

and written in crimson calligraphy

across the earth, making merry of woes,

in a swirl of fire and epiphany.

Teach me the touch of immortal extent,

wherein forever is found in a flash,

where shadows of thought are an aliment,

a source of life among ruin and ash.

Teach me the hope of the blossoming bud,

tremendously tender and spun sublime,

with her flesh on fire from euphoric blood

and flaming curves that are bedewed with time.

Teach me the truth of mist on the water,

the white shroud of silence that drapes the blue,

where shadows hush like a quiet daughter,

waiting for the winds of a warmer hue.

Teach me the love of a lifetime of bliss,

where warm shades of passion burn like a fire,

where foreplay flutters are born in the kiss

between lips of unquenchable desire.

Teach me the joy that I see in your eyes

whenever I see you looking at me,

in that intimate way you alchemize

and turn my soul into a rhapsody.

Teach me to whisper the words of my heart,

the lover's song that I'm aching to sing

and bridge the distance which keeps us apart

by teaching heart how to lift its redwing.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Forest Green]

Incredible...a sublime mix of hearthstone, open skies, and heartbeats.
'Teach me the love that is found in a rose
and written in crimson calligraphy
across the earth, making merry of woes,
in a swirl of fire and epiphany.'

Your touch in this poem beggars description. Where has your work been hiding?

Wonderfully complete and truly, truly original.

Daniel

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Linda Marie,

Your poem was recommended to me by my friend Mark--you'll find his review below. I must admit, after reading the first two stanzas my jaw was beginning to drop open. This was some of the most beautiful lyric poetry I have ever read. But then problems started to arise. The first two lines of the third stanza are fine, although not as powerful and the first two stanzas, but then the last two lines shattered the near perfect cloud of bliss that I was floating on.

"where shadows of thought are an aliment,
a source of life among ruin and ash."

"aliment" is so harsh and frankly I don't understand what you're trying to say here. And there are similar problems with meaning in other phrases such as

"and flaming curves that are bedewed with time"

"waiting for the winds of a warmer hue"

What do these mean?

Still, the poem has startling beauty. You clearly have a nack for lyric poetry which is especially appealing to me. This poem has so much potential. It just needs some work to give every line and phrase razor sharp meaning coupled with lyrical beauty. If you can continue the unsurpassed beauty of the first two stanzas throughout the poem, the effect would be blinding. Those familiar with my reviews will know that I have never, ever, given a 99 rating (a rating of 100 is impossible!) for a poem. The highest I've ever given is 98, and of the 332 reviews I've given up to this point, I've given a 98 only 4 times. As my jaw was dropping after reading the first two stanzas I was getting excited because I had thought: "Is this a 99, finally?" I think this still can be a 99 with some work, and boy, would that be worth the effort. I know you can do it. Just look at those first two stanzas! Marvelous!

Very best regards,

Rick

[Markymark]

Read request sent by Mark:

Nice. Very nice indeed.

Good work.

Markymark

[Ellen Hammond]

An outstanding masterpiece! I love it all, your metaphors, the gentle flow of your words, the rhyming scheme.

[LSS]

Simply wonderful! From the first stanza to the last, a masterful cadence and delightful morsels of words. The rich meanings interwoven into each thought, yet not stilted nor crudely done, but heartwarming causing us readers to savor each thought and idea, as they all flow serenely toward the same outcome where it all began. Wonderful!
LSS

[Mark]

Well, Linda, this is the first of you I've read, but it most assuredly will not be the last!
I am simply dumbstruck! Even to suggest a syllable more here, a preposition less there, seems blasphemous,this is so entrancingly lovely. Did you notice that almost every reviewer who wrote a "Favorite Stanza" within their review WROTE A DIFFERENT STANZA?? Each is as delightful as the last, each contributes to the whole. What a delight it is to find another who cherishes the old values, the old forms, and handles both so adroitly!
Thank you for reviewing "Oasis". To receive praise from an artist of your caliber is especially meaningful.
I invite you to continue to peruse me at your leisure; we share many common values, I believe.

[deeps]

Wow! This is amazling beautiful, I like how your words just flow down the page. You are very talented, I'll have to read more, excellent write I can feel the love in this write.

[cilla]

Soft and gentle, this poem simply flows one word into another, line into line, verse after verse. The subtle discipline of iambic pentameter gives the poem a beautiful rhythm. The poem is lush and beautiful and begs to be read again and again.

[Nihad Dweidary]

An orchestra of words with infinite beauty. This poem is like a long, embroidered dress draping over soft, warm flesh. The lines themselves are a whisper for love, for unison, for incredible immensity. Apart from being a master of images, you can seriously tap into the furthest corner of any wandering heart.

-Nihad

[maggie42]

Lovely write... I tend to find rhyming poetry antiquated, and limiting in its possibilities. But you have handled this with a very intelligent, as well as freeing hand, and mind :)

[Ghost of Jupiter]

AMAZING... that was simply a gorgeous write that caught hold of my soul with each stanza.

"Teach me the love of a lifetime of bliss,
where warm shades of passion burn like a fire,
where foreplay flutters are born in the kiss
between lips of unquenchable desire.

I would quote the entire poem in it's beauty, but these lines really were sensuous and prolific, quite a wonderful poem!