Red Petals and Wine

[douglas]

as my eyes closed I was at your funeral
where there were roses falling
through rain

beneath watery air
black umbrellas bloomed
like sordid flowers
sown from the opposite bank
of the dark and eternal river
which flows beside the pathway
of each life

and as the cold wind
grabbed my wrists in a painful clutch
I remembered your face
and how warm your eyes
used to be

I remembered how they would
watch me drinking red wine
from across rooms filled
with motion and laughter

I remembered how they would
secretly draw me in
and possess me

now I was watching
as they lowered you gently into the ground
being mindful not to jar
or hurt you as they did so

a tender acquiescence
that I found beautiful and terrifying

across the cemetery
I noticed the deep, quiet green
of old fir trees against the purple
wash of low clouds

a water painting through the drizzle

and then I was alone with you
and the spattering of rain drops
upon fallen leaves

the white marble angels and virgins
around us seemed to stir suddenly
as I scattered red petals
into the earth
petals as red as the wine
we would drink together again one day
in rooms
filled with warmth and happiness
and laughter

[dcmarti1]

old fir trees against the purple
wash of low clouds

a water painting through the drizzle

 

.....So reminded me of the high imagery in Ezra Pound's "In a station of the metro", but of course, THIS situation is specifically sad. The emotion clearly comes through in the rest of it.

[Benjamin]

Lots of excellent lines and evocative imagery. I particularly liked: "I remembered your face/ and how warm your eyes/ used to be" also "and then I was alone with you/ and the spattering of raindrops/ upon fallen leaves" Much enjoyed.

[douglas]

Thank you gentlemen! ;)

[Randver Askmadr]

Wow, talk about painting a picture with words. Very well done Douglas, very well indeed.

[eclipse]

excellent work i must say

[tonyv]

A very moving work, Douglas, from reflections on the past to the aloneness in the graveyard.

 

Tony