A War rages in my heart,
The battle a vision I see in my dream,
The horror of those slain before my eyes,
A fire which rages white hot…
Trailing smoke which drifts ever upward,
Into the midnight sky,
Like rabid dogs they come,
Seeking treasure and beauty,
But in this moldy and dank crevice,
They will find only oblivion,
Staring back with empty eyes…
Her red lips part,
And she speaks to them
In a whisper…
“What is it you seek here?
Honor?”
She spits the word in their face-
“Love is a dagger thrust into the soul,
A sweet pain I suffer with remorse!
Withdraw!
Retreat while you still can!
Love will find no purchase,
On this rocky abode,
My sisters lay slain on the battlefield,
And I weep for their loss…”
I lay wreaths of flowers,
On my sisters grave,
Tending broken hearts with grace,
Feel my own heart leaking tears,
On their cold and silent face-
My mother’s blood calls out to me,
In warning and silent supplication;
“Run while you still can!
He will never understand,
The beauty of the gift you give him,
He will shred your heart in red ribbons,
Stained with blood and tears,
Will slay your dreams with lies…”
Ah mother, how much I tried-
Stand weary and battle sore,
Yet I have never loved him more…
Retta, I've just discovered your poetry. Needless to say, I should spend more time reading the offerings of others, but life has a way of rushing me along, carrying me out to sea and throwing me upon the shore, battered and bruised. "He will shred your heart in red ribbons, stained with blood and tears, will slay your dreams with lies" Only a woman who has been there could express it so eloquently and precisely. Your spirit has touched mine with delicate intimacy. Thank you for such sensitivity.
God bless you and your work
This must have been so hard to write because of what is involved but you have exceded I think your own expectations. I imagine you reading it over again and just sitting back and saying Damn!!!!!!!! this is good
I know I am saying it
Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)
Reviewed on January 16, 2004
Captervated from the off, nice gentle write, that's straight from the heart, and most uplifting, nice one..
This is, indeed, wonderfully expressive, gorgeous, vividly descriptive, absolutely beautiful. ;) Silver
Reviewed by Katy Walsvik (Reader)
Reviewed on January 14, 2004
Oh, wow.. My god... the last lines caused a very loud exhalation.. a trembling for having read such a gorgeous piece of work.. You take an age-old theme and breathe into it something never said quite this way before.. I love this, Retta! katy xox.
Reviewed by Floria Kelderhouse (Reader)
Reviewed on January 14, 2004
Reindeer this is so powerful...and sad...and so many of us can agree with you...love certainly can be like a dagger sometimes...and sometimes I wonder if it is all worth it...loved this and how you expressed it...lovely work..floria
Strongly depicted from a heart that's been besieged, intense wondrous poetry, Reindeer!Thank you!
Reviewed by Simon Thurlow (Reader)
Reviewed on January 14, 2004
I was reminded of the old Pat Benetar song ' Love is a Battlefield' when I first saw the title to your poem. But this is infinitely better. Wonderful write Retta
My mother’s blood calls out to me,
In warning and silent supplication;
“Run while you still can!
He will never understand,
The beauty of the gift you give him,
He will shred your heart in red ribbons,
Stained with blood and tears,
Will slay your dreams with lies…”
Ah mother, how much I tried-
Stand weary and battle sore,
Yet I have never loved him more…
Wow... exceptional write.. Bitter and sad.. felt it to the core
The deep-dive literary meditations presented as stories, poems, and essays in The American Poet Who Went Home Again, A Mosaic of My Soul at Work, have captivated and inspired readers ever since its first paperback publication in 2008.
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God bless you and your work
Nancy
I know I am saying it
Do hurts if one live in love ..
And Live for Love ....
This is a beautiful write ...
Njan nenee Shehikunuuuuu
Ha ha :D
excellent write Rein....
enjoyable reading
William
love Tinka
o, this is fantastic--enjoyed, really touched my heart
love needn't be a battlefield
(((HUGS))) and love,
karla. :)
~Chrissie
Carmen
In warning and silent supplication;
“Run while you still can!
He will never understand,
The beauty of the gift you give him,
He will shred your heart in red ribbons,
Stained with blood and tears,
Will slay your dreams with lies…”
Ah mother, how much I tried-
Stand weary and battle sore,
Yet I have never loved him more…
Wow... exceptional write.. Bitter and sad.. felt it to the core