Hold me through the ages, time-stopped
in stone; cave-captured crystal born of stars,
like us, soulmates,
eternal, entwined, encircled, encased,
encompassing the miracle of love
and survival.
If we are found after a thousand tomorrows,
in our calcified connection, in our everlasting embrace,
they will see–despite surface cracks—
our bond has held beyond life
into the hereafter.
This poem is for my prompt at dVerse today. I’ve asked everyone to write a poem on artifacts. (I’m not making a distinction between art and artifacts.) I didn’t have anything particular in mind, but I discovered the Ain Sakhri Lovers. You can read more about this ancient sculpture here.
Also, a reminder. This Thursday, 9 December, will be Open Link Night on dVerse. The first hour, 3-4 PM, EST, will be live for anyone who wants to participate. You can post a link without participating in the live event. Link one poem as usual.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
So fascinating with that sculpture… and how much it is like ourselves, a bridge to the past.
Thank you so much! Yes, as soon as I saw it, it spoke to me. Whoever sculpted it, was very skilled.
Oh nice! Beautifully done and I can well see what was and what is now…
Thank you very much! It just really hit me when I saw this ancient work of art, even though I wasn’t sure what I would write.
Good thing you didn’t know what to write… 😏
Hahaha. I usually just start writing and see what happens. That’s probably why I like writing poetry more than nonfiction. 😏
And probably why I like micro-fiction (which, as we know, is almost never fiction for me…) best of all 🙂
Yes. 🤣🤣
😉 😀
Wonderful poem –and about one of my favourite objects! I love going to see it at the Brit Mu.
Oh, I’m so pleased you like it–especially since you’ve seen the sculpture for real. I’ve never been to the British Museum.
It is a treasure house.
Oh, you definitely brought these lovers to life, Merril. I esp enjoyed your time-stoppage and all of that e-literation in Stanza 1. Thanks. And thanks for the cool prompt, too!
Thank you so much, Ron.! I’m pleased you liked it. And you’re welcome. 😀
What a captivating idea, Merril: that ‘everlasting embrace!’
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
Such a good subject you found, and I like the ‘despite surface cracks’. We all have those, even when we’re not artefacts 🙂
Thank you! And of course, you’re right. 😀
🙂
9,000 years old. Gives a new spin on, “love you long time.” May their spirits still be so entwined.
It certainly does, and I hope so. Thank you, Lisa!
Beautifully lyrical, Merril, full of love.
Pax,
Dora
Thank you very much, Dora! 💙
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
I love this…..it speaks to the idea that love can and does go way beyond the “surface cracks” and to the idea that sometimes those cracks, can make the love between two individuals even stronger. IE working at keeping the cracks simply small fissures….always crossing the divide.
Thank you so much for your very thoughtful reading, Lillian!
A fine illustration for your prompt. I like what you said about poetry. ” I just start writing and see where it goes”, no parameters (free verse), no nets, outlines or rules, just words, like water, flowing into other words.
Thank you so much, Glenn!
Very beautiful, Merril!
Thank you, Jill!
I suppose it says all there is to say about me that I thought it was a biscuit at first, like those pieces of toast that seem to have something represented on them. How wrong I was, though. After looking more closely and reading your poem, it’s just a beautiful thing to think that love, or even a lovely representation of love, can last for centuries, to be admired by generations. I feel very insignificant now!
At first I thought the scupture was a weirdly misshapen loaf of bread . . .
I love your poem!! It’s a love poem for the ages. Wow!!
The simplicity of the form is echoed in your words–deep, strong. (K)
Very nice Merril. What a great find carved in stone! A love that lasts beyond living! A great post.
such a sweet metaphor for calcified stamps of time! i love how this rolled, Merril!
Thank you very much!
I love this! The metaphor used was just apt! 🙂
Thank you so much! 😀
This is completely amazing, Merril. Thanks for introducing me to this.
❤
David
Thank you very much, David. I’m pleased you enjoyed it. 💙
Beautifully artful Merril thank you – says so much in a few lines …
To me, you’ve told a story of then and now. Love this line – like us, soulmates, eternal, entwined, encircled, encased, encompassing the miracle of love and survival.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Frank. I’m pleased you enjoyed it!
I loved this. Amazing that some would just see a misshapen rock, and some, a lover’s tale across ages.
I too thought at first I was looking at a loaf of bread. But no, lovers forever entwined. I like that.
Thank you so much!😀
Stunningly beautiful verse
Thank you so much, Derrick!
It’s actually a little sad though special! I love all you read into it. I do think you could replicate that image with your baking. Maybe for Valentine’s Day?
Thank you, Luanne. 🤣
A deeply moving poem, Merril!
Inspired by an ancient sculpture, makes it all the more deep.
(not trying to be funny, but I thought it was bread at first, and I was quite amazed what you got from it)
Thank you so much, Resa.
Apparently others thought so, too. I suppose because I first saw it on a site of ancient objects, I saw it for what it was right away. And some modern sculptures resemble it.
Modern sculpture can be quite fascinating.
So is traditional. We have a lot of it in the streets of Toronto. I’ve started taking pics, to include in my art blog. However, I need to learn a way of presenting. It is not like taking pics of paintings.
It is dimensional, and the light is different as I work my way around.
I’ll figure it out.
Yes, I know what you mean. 😀
What a lovely portrayal of the artifact!
Thank you! I’m so pleased you think so.
I love how you used the alliteration to express the unbreakable connection of these figures, and your own relationship.
Thank you so much!
Poems are breads we feed to those that we love, keeping then keen and alive — and way ahead of what’s chasing!
OK. Thank you, Rob. 😏
A love poem that perfectly suits this embodiment of love. I enjoyed reading the historical detail behind the sculpture–11,000 years is a very long time, yet are we really so different from the one who created this? Lovely poem, and I really enjoyed writing for your prompt.
How we believe in eternity and people’s interest in us 🙂
Nicely done, Merril. I enjoyed the alliteration and the smooth flow of your poem.
Such a fascinating sculpture and your words did complete justice to it!
Thank you so much. That’s very kind.
My pleasure.
The sense that love can be eternal, that perhaps there is a healthy holding (dare I say merging), a oneness that transcends, I love the possibilities this raises.
Thank you so much, Paul.
My pleasure Merril
Nice…do visit my blog and kindly share with others!!
Thanks!
A lovely one.
Thank you.
🙂🙂