Topic 22 of 53: Poems of Desire II
Mon, Jul 6, 1998 (00:06) |
Wolf (wolf)
56 responses total.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 1 of 56: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Mon, Jul 6, 1998 (00:06) * 1 lines
(anyone home?)
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 2 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sat, Aug 1, 1998 (14:33) * 19 lines
Once, My Lover
We met, by chance, upon a Spring morn
Was it then, my lover you became?
You keep near me, watch from afar
And it is that which burns me still.
If, upon a Summer's day, we meet again,
Continue what we silenced that day?
Your face still I see every moment.
But the shame in me wasn't yours
We belonged, it was those that looked.
And, if you, if me, we would be lost
To the stars we counted that night.
Harbor no inhibitions, take me
Again to that day. Shall we plan?
Oh, I ache for your touch from
Fleeting memories in my dreams.
If we meet by chance, a Spring morn,
Would you again my lover become?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 3 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (15:41) * 12 lines
In the storm he would take me.
His lips and tongue explorers
In a jungle filled with wild flowers.
I cry out to him again and
He feeds me nectar and creme.
We fly with our bodies entwined
Within the sweet web of surrender
And he meets me over and over.
His touch is warm and commanding
I cannot ignore the demanding fire
Within my womb. He is the master.
His trade is my passion.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 4 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (15:44) * 21 lines
Because I love;
I wish to understand your heart.
I want to feel your emptiness
So I can fill it with kindness
And mercy, because I love.
But you steal it like a hungry child.
Your voice is a hand on my skin.
You have brought me grief,
I come back like a fool to hear
Your sound. Whisper in my ear.
Because I love;
I feed off the aura your words give.
Encourage my voice so I may sing.
Knowing how you hunger, truly, but you
Are not ready for the feast prepared.
And I want you. Speak to me in prose.
Can I not be a Venus to anyone?
You are so vain and pompous, yes.
Love me like a hungry, greedy soul.
So I give you kindness and mercy,
Because I love.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 5 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (15:46) * 12 lines
Would I give to you my soul?
And what proof would you give
That my self will be kept safe?
Would I give it to the Angel
Who stays with me everywhere?
And could I trust it in those hands?
Mortal beings cannot be held in
That high esteem, nor the angels,
Subject to temptations like we.
But if you ask me, I would give you
My love. That would be a gift
I would never ask to be returned.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 6 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (15:48) * 12 lines
Can I take myself a lover or two?
Would they drown the sound of your name
On my lips?
With each love you take in your arms,
Do they remove the wish for my kiss
On your lips?
And each time you hurt me, be my embrace,
Would you want me then? Calling my name
From your lips?
Time and again I return to the fire for warmth
And it blows out cold but again I call to you
From my lips.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 7 of 56: wer (KitchenManager) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (16:03) * 1 lines
(you oughta go off on biz trips more often...)
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 8 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (17:19) * 1 lines
am tired of them, really, what? you tired of seeing me here? *wink*
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 9 of 56: wer (KitchenManager) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (17:50) * 3 lines
nope, you just always seem to have a bunch of new
poems to post for our perusal...what do you think
of the current changes around here?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 10 of 56: paula mendoza (paula) * Sun, Aug 2, 1998 (20:17) * 66 lines
hey... mind if i put something of mine in here?
(not like any of youd really stop me, i guess...)
in a winter- a body left bare
laying numb on words, warmed
to his touch
flesh wrote in verse and
i felt, deliriously-
each of his caresses
so hes breathed me, that very day, and
ive lived in him since
no other love within me, nor
inside him dwelled,
only i was only he was
truly
purely
mine
dared to Dream- a maiden
but, no airy voice would peirce
the thick of our sighs
no eyes, no imagined embraces
would pale the furious, holy
red that clothed us
drowning in the sugar sweet syrup
of delusions. quietly shunning
truth, she would recall a
never was.
and the wide eyed girl
squints; chokes- in the mist
and fog of pastel visions.
she hated pastels
and couldnt bear that they
refused to see
the bold, dark colours of
an us, a we, that stole-
the imperial violet from twilight
the cold blue of stares
and the honest red of an august sun
i cry- hear it, though- see
the heavens break in my shreik, see them
fall in every whisper
and watch the stars wince sharp
to my thoughts
and i would think, strong, i would think
in a green eyed afternoon,
id think;
sweetie...
he never was your lover.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 11 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Mon, Aug 3, 1998 (10:05) * 5 lines
you are more than welcome to post your work here paula, please do!
wer: the stuff looks good. have been really tired so haven't done anymore
work here myself (sorry y'all). and being away means i think too much so i
write!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 12 of 56: wer (KitchenManager) * Mon, Aug 3, 1998 (23:11) * 1 lines
and to which stuff do you reference?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 13 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Tue, Aug 4, 1998 (08:41) * 1 lines
the bars at the top (did you do anything else i don't know about?)
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 14 of 56: wer (KitchenManager) * Tue, Aug 4, 1998 (09:05) * 1 lines
not in here...
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 15 of 56: wer (KitchenManager) * Tue, Aug 4, 1998 (09:06) * 2 lines
well, except center the full name/change it thing, but did that
everywhere else, as well...
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 16 of 56: Tim Guenther (TIM) * Sun, Nov 22, 1998 (19:54) * 2 lines
Check out the "Song of Solomon" in the Bible. ( in some translations, "song of
Songs", or "Canticles")
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 17 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Nov 22, 1998 (23:03) * 3 lines
been there done that. beautiful piece. even if you're not a believer, the
Bible holds many wonderful writings and is an excellent source of history as
well as common truths.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 18 of 56: Tim Guenther (TIM) * Sun, Nov 22, 1998 (23:29) * 2 lines
Very true, not to mention, it's great literature! Ever heard the song,"TURN,
TURN, TURN"?.........Ecclesiastes Ch 3 first 10 verses.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 19 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Mon, Nov 23, 1998 (12:04) * 1 lines
indeed! a time for everything.....
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 20 of 56: Tim Guenther (TIM) * Mon, Nov 23, 1998 (14:11) * 1 lines
That is one of my favorite songs!!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 21 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Mon, Aug 16, 1999 (22:40) * 1 lines
wow, has it been nearly a year?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 22 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Mon, Nov 8, 1999 (18:41) * 28 lines
Here's another topic that looks like it needs some revitalizing, so here goes:
THE VINE
by Robert Herrick
I dreamed this mortal part of mine
Was metamorphosed to a vine;
Which crawling one and every way,
Enthralled my dainty Lucia.
Me thought, her long small legs and thighs
I with my tendrils did surprise;
Her belly, buttocks, and her waist
By my soft nervelets were embraced:
About her head I writhing hung,
And with rich clusters (hid among
The leaves) her temples I behung:
So that my Lucia seemed to me
Young Bacchus ravished by his tree.
My curls about her neck did crawl,
And arms and hands they did enthrall;
So that she could not freely stir,
(All parts there made one prisoner.)
But when I crept with leaves to hide
Those parts, which maids keep unespied,
Such fleeting pleasures there I took,
That with the fancy I awoke;
And found (Ah me!) this flesh of mine
More like a stock, than like a vine.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 23 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov 8, 1999 (19:21) * 1 lines
Oooh, Good one!!! Lusty, indeed! Thanks!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 24 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov 8, 1999 (19:31) * 1 lines
Wolfie, I never read this Topic before. You write incredible stuff! (Some of the old topics I do not read for my own sanity!) Thanks for your poems and I now see how very much your muse is worth to this enterprise. How could it dare desert you?!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 25 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Mon, Nov 8, 1999 (20:13) * 17 lines
Here are some little excerpts from some poems by Aphra Behn, which unfortunately I don't have the titles for:
In pity to our sex sure thou wert sent,
That we might love, and yet be innocent:
For sure no crime with thee we can commit;
Or if we should--thy form excuses it.
For who, that gathers fairest flowers believes
A snake lies hid beneath the fragrant leaves.
*****
Though 'tis a mighty power must move
The soul to this degree of love,
And though with virtue I the world perplex,
Lysander finds the weakness of my sex,
So Helen while from Theseus' arms she fled,
To charming Paris yields her heart and bed.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 26 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Tue, Nov 9, 1999 (20:02) * 3 lines
marcia *beam* thanks dearie!
amy, thanks for posting some good stuff in this forlorn topic!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 27 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Tue, Nov 9, 1999 (20:49) * 22 lines
Hmm, how odd that a topic on poems of desire should be "forlorn"...
THE LETTER
by Amy Lowell
Little cramped words scrawling all over the paper
Like draggled fly's legs,
What can you tell the flaring moon
Through the oak leaves?
Or of my uncurtained window and the bare floor
Spattered with moonlight?
Your silly quirks and twists have nothing in them
Of blossoming hawthorns,
And this paper is dull, crisp, smooth, virgin of loveliness
Beneath my hand.
I am tired, Beloved, of chafing my heart against
The want of you;
Of squeezing it into little inkdrops,
And posting it.
And I scald alone, here, under the fire
Of the great moon.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 28 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Nov 11, 1999 (00:52) * 4 lines
I am tired, Beloved, of chafing my heart against
The want of you;
Amy, could we write volumes on this very subject, even though mine was so long ago? *big sigh*
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 29 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Sat, Nov 13, 1999 (13:11) * 24 lines
KIDNAP POEM
by Nikki Giovanni
ever been kidnapped
by a poet
if i were a poet
i'd kidnap you
put you in my phrases and meter
you to jones beach
or maybe coney island
or maybe just to my house
lyric you in lilacs
dash you in the rain
blend into the beach
to complement my see
play the lyre for you
ode you with my love song
anything to win you
wrap you in the red Black green
show you off to mama
yeah if i were a poet, i'd kid
nap you
(I love the line "lyric you in lilacs"--I use that phrase whenever I can!)
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 30 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Sat, Nov 13, 1999 (13:20) * 18 lines
PIAZZA PIECE
by John Crowe Ransom
--I am a gentleman in a dustcoat trying
To make you hear. Your ears are soft and small
And listen to an old man not at all,
They want the young men's whispering and sighing.
But see the roses on your trellis dying
And hear the spectral singing of the moon;
For I must have my lovely lady soon,
I am a gentleman in a dustcoat trying.
--I am a lady young in beauty waiting
Until my truelove comes, and then we kiss.
But what grey man among the vines is this
Whose words are dry and faint as in a dream?
Back from my trellis, Sir, before I scream!
I am a lady young in beauty waiting.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 31 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Nov 13, 1999 (14:22) * 3 lines
The first one is lovely even though I know Jones Beach and it isn't all that lyrical...but love the lilac line - my favorite flower fragrance from childhood.
The second one is sad...
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 32 of 56: MarkG (MarkG) * Mon, Nov 15, 1999 (06:10) * 3 lines
Thanks Amy. As ever, poems quite outside my experience, and fascinating. I am trying to work out if the lovely John Crowe Ransom sonnet is cryptic; although I might guess the "gentleman in a dustcoat" (a book) I can't assign the "lady young in beauty" to anything.
Was it a subliminal pun to post a kidnap poem followed by a Ransom poem?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 33 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov 15, 1999 (13:35) * 1 lines
Ransome pun - Mark, how brilliant to note that! It had quite escaped me. The man is very clever and is readable on many levels.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 34 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Mon, Nov 15, 1999 (22:39) * 1 lines
Good grief, I posted those and I didn't even think of that! I have a tendency to do that--I make puns when I don't intend to, and people think I'm much wittier than I really am!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 35 of 56: Wolf (wolf) * Tue, Nov 16, 1999 (21:48) * 1 lines
*lol*
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 36 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Thu, Nov 18, 1999 (14:13) * 51 lines
I know this is a incredibly common and over-anthologized poem, but I was thinking about it because someone is playing coy with me, and it made me think of this poem.
TO HIS COY MISTRESS
by Andrew Marvell
Had we but world enough and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood,
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the Conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze,
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest.
And age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, Lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near,
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found,
Nor in thy marble vault shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long preserved virginity,
And your quaint honor turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust.
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning glew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour
Than languish in his slow-chapped power.
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 37 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Nov 18, 1999 (14:32) * 1 lines
Good poem...I have known the feeling, as well, but the guy in college lost me and I married another...!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 38 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Thu, Nov 18, 1999 (21:50) * 1 lines
His loss!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 39 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Nov 19, 1999 (00:12) * 1 lines
So I was told. Why did it take so long to get over the hurt inside if that were the case? (Rhetorical question)
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 40 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Nov 19, 1999 (00:13) * 1 lines
Btw,...Thanks for the supporting thought! *hugs* Amy...you are ever there for me.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 41 of 56: Amy Keene (Irishprincess) * Fri, Nov 19, 1999 (21:00) * 1 lines
...as you are for me! *hugs*
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 42 of 56: Poetic Person of Power (wolf) * Sun, May 14, 2000 (19:24) * 25 lines
this is brand new today:
The Marble Halls of Light
Dance with me, my Dreamer.
Our footsteps fall like feathers.
Your eyes a burning ember
In the Marble Halls of Light.
Your touch is my addiction
Of moonlit Summer dreams,
Of Spring and Fall and Winter
In the Marble Halls of Light.
To dance with you, My Dreamer,
A wish to have come true.
Our hearts follow the rhythm
In the Marble Halls of Light.
How my heart does yearn for
Your heart to beat with mine.
Meet me there, I pray you,
In the Marble Halls of Light.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 43 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, May 14, 2000 (19:36) * 2 lines
Oh Wolfie! You wrote my dream into your poem as well as others, I am sure.
Viennese Waltzes in Marble halls with the tall handsome man who can do it in a straight line... Wow! Thank you!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 44 of 56: Poetic Person of Power (wolf) * Sun, May 14, 2000 (19:38) * 1 lines
i knew you'd understand it and surely others have dreams of their own marble halls!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 45 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, May 14, 2000 (19:44) * 1 lines
Indeed! Mine has been since I was a little girl!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 46 of 56: Maggie (sociolingo) * Tue, May 16, 2000 (18:42) * 1 lines
Too true! Thanks Wolfie.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 47 of 56: Poetic Person of Power (wolf) * Fri, May 19, 2000 (18:31) * 6 lines
wrote this last night:
Temptation is questioned.
Whose sin do we make,
If you have the hunger
And I've made the feast?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 48 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, May 19, 2000 (18:35) * 1 lines
Ummm! Yes, I know...!
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 49 of 56: Poetic Person of Power (wolf) * Tue, May 23, 2000 (20:25) * 30 lines
and this today:
The piercing stare of your eyes
Makes me weak in the knees
And I'm made aware that
I have your attention.
The accidental touch
Makes me draw in a breath
And I'm made aware that
It was no accident.
The casual chatter
Belies the agenda
And I'm made aware that
It's wrought with meaning.
********
Give a reason for my heart aflutter,
For my weakness in standing,
For the glow everyone sees.
Validate the butterflies
When you walk in the room and
Whenever I think of you again.
Let this not be for naught
For wishful thinking, hopeful
My affect be the same with you.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 50 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 23, 2000 (20:44) * 1 lines
....*S I G H*..... Been there, done that; still there, doing that....
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 51 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 23, 2000 (20:50) * 1 lines
How long till Monday? Or is it Saturday?
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 52 of 56: Poetic Person of Power (wolf) * Tue, May 23, 2000 (20:59) * 1 lines
*sigh* too long.
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 53 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 24, 2000 (19:01) * 1 lines
...I know...*hugs*
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 54 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 24, 2000 (19:02) * 1 lines
(I'm beginnning to hate these "FORGOT" buttons. They are beginning to make me feel bad ...)
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 55 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Mar 8, 2002 (22:13) * 71 lines
Translating amorous couplets
A labour of love
BY MARK DRAGOUMIS
CREDIT should be given where credit is due. A
Greek-American Professor, Mr Stylianos V
Spyridakis, translated and Aristide D Caratzas
published the Mantinades. Selected Love Distichs of
Crete. So what? You may ask. So the translations respect both the fifteen
syllable metre and the rhyme. That is what.
Written mostly during the Venetian period (their name comes from the Italian
mattinata, or morning song) in the Cretan vernacular, they blend so successfully
old Greek poetic motifs with romantic love that they are still being created and
sung at village festivals, weddings, baptisms and other joyful events in Crete.
This publication deals only with the 'love distichs' or couplets.
The pain and sorrow of unrequited love is vividly portrayed:
"Σά ρημοκλήσι του βουνού, που δε το λειτουργούνε
μοιάζει κι' εκείνος π'αγαπά, και δεν τον αγαπούνε."
(A lonely chapel on the hill, silent and forlorn
resembles he who's in love, but from his love is torn.)
Here the need to respect the rhyme damages ever so slightly the simplicity of the
line about the quandary of the man 'who loves but is not loved'. Note also the
assimilation of love with the practice of religion. The man whose love is
shunned, is like an empty shell, a chapel on the hill where mass is never
celebrated.
In a clear reference to romantic love that pledges to last forever and does not
even depend on frequent visual contact (this bit is somewhat lost in the
translation) the Cretan lover identifies completely with his sweetheart.
"Ώσπου να ζώ θα σάγαπώ κι' ας μη σε συχνοβλέπω
μα' γώ με τη ζωή σου ζώ και με το φώς σου βλέπω."
(Living apart, by no means, my love for you belies
For I breathe with your breath and see with your eyes.)
Interestingly, love is not portrayed only as the soul's tumult that sweeps
everything on its path but also as the crowning of a long, close relationship that
is more the mark of a successful marriage than the sudden explosion of a coup
de foudre. The long, intimate relation between the sand and the sea on the
seashore used here to portray a love relation of long standing is quite unusual in
Greek folk poetry.
"Oλημερίς κι' ολονυχτίς σέρν' ο γιαλός τον άμμο
Έμαθα με του λόγου σου και δίχως σου δεν κάνω."
(The seashore draws to its lap the sand day and night
Without you I'm miserable, I miss you my delight.)
One should not miss the delights of this book. Professor Spyridakis merits a
prize of some sort. Is anyone reading this column in the ministry of culture?
http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.prnt_article?e=C&f=&t=04&m=A43&aa=5
Topic 22 of 53 [poetry]: Poems of Desire II
Response 56 of 56: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Mar 8, 2002 (22:15) * 1 lines
Hmmm wonder why I hated the "forget" buttons? It has been a while since I had anything amorous come to my attention. I would love to have that book!
poetry conference 
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