Birthdays

[vaneramos]

Happy Birthday to iamkatia and ghostsandrobots

iamkatia said:

What I want for my 44th birthday:

....I want someone to send me a poem that means alot to them so I can feel more who they are.



This was written Nov. 11, 1996. Two years later I wrote a four-part musical setting and it was performed by my choir. This is one of my few rhyming poems.

Joining

For D.L.

Into the circle of my arms
out of the city's uncertain charms
will you draw near?
Away the drive and flash of night.
Within this circle, soft and bright,
lay down your fear.

Then while your straining mind relents
I'll sweeten your skin with frankincense
and sandalwood.
Come, set the candles all aflame
to shine away your cryptic shame,
expose the good.

At last your chest and shoulders freed
I'll touch the hidden, tender seed
inside your heart
of simple passions deeply hidden,
dreams forsaken, tears unbidden,
all set apart.

Let shadows rise and speak their names
among the quiet and gentle flames,
this lighted ring.
Within encircling arms we'll turn
our spirits to hope, our minds to learn,
our hearts to sing.

Comments

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Usually they are just exercises for me. This particular poem wrote itself this way.

[ghostsandrobots.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Haven't tried form of any kind in years; it's hard for me and I am impressed with this.

shine away your cryptic shame/expose the good

My favorite "wow" line.

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes, Van. Also, glad that my birthday-sister requested poems. It's wonderful to see all of these.

[ghostsandrobots.livejournal.com]

I just realized that your other friend who commented before said "Sweet!" too. That's odd. I must have remembered reading it, but didn't decide to do that consciously. "Sweet" is a good word to use here, I guess. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it!

At various times I have forced myself to try forms because I think the exercise informs my free verse writing. It is always hard, and usually dissatisfying. This poem is the exception.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

Van, this is so lovely. Sometimes I forget how the beauty of rhyme can convey such tenderness.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[spirit-bear.livejournal.com]

WOW! Mind if I quote from this in the novel I am working on? This was amazing! I wish I could hear it!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That is a great compliment. Can you include a credit line somehow?

[spirit-bear.livejournal.com]

Of course I will! I would not dream of doing it any other way! Gosh! Now just tell me how you want the credit. Full name, date of copywrite, and name of song/poem?

And thanks for permission! HUGS!!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

©1996 Van Waffle, title: "Joining"

Thanks very much! Best wishes for your writing. Hugs.

[iamkatia.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh- I almost missed this Van!!! :O

It's beautiful! and this is coming from someone who doesn't normally like the 'rhyming kind.' You made it work though, wonderfully.

Thank you! <3

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I don't really like reading or writing rhyming and metered poetry, except as an exercise. This one just came out that way.