The Book
“To Mark Let the poetic sound of moons and stars invade your night thoughts to give you sweet dreams always for in your dreams lies the happiness you truly want. hope you enjoy the book Michelle”
–Message written on the flyleaf of a book
I saw the book–
its dustcover the azure
of the Mediterranean—
beckoning as the clear water did us,
and amid packing—
books, your books, your things–
I opened it, and remembered
how we were, lithe in the limpid blue,
then later reading this book, a gift,
you as bright as Keats’ star,
aware your blaze would soon be extinguished.
I rose with creaking knees
from the sea of boxes,
set the tear-dampened book
aside to keep, sensing your presence
like a nightlight in the next room
leaving a glow under the door,
and I thought I heard you say,
sweet dreams always, my love, goodbye.
For dVerse, Laura has chosen five inscriptions from the Book of Inscription Project. She’s asked us to write a poem based on one of them.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
This was such a touching poem. I was moved by it.
Thank you very much, Liz. I’m pleased that you were.
You’re welcome, Merril.
So beautiful!
Thank you, Rene! 😊
You’re welcome Merril!
Oh my gosh, this is so touching Merril. I loved it ☺️💕
Thank you so much, Christine! 💙
That part about the nightlight, what a comforting way of feeling the presence that has gone still caring and watching over. I love this whole poem.
Thank you so much, Claudia. I’m so pleased you do.
Nice one!
Much💛love
Thank you, Gillena. 🙂
Heart-wrenching, Merril!
Thank you, Ingrid! 🙂
This is a poignant flyleaf poem, Merril, which moved me with its use of colour in the ‘dustcover the azure of the Mediterranean’ and the ‘limpid blue’, and the reference to Keats’ bright star, which marks the shift to ‘your blaze would soon be extinguished’. I love the way you portray the writer in their old age, reminded of a lover by a ‘tear-dampened book’. I especially love the lines:
‘…sensing your presence
like a nightlight in the next room
leaving a glow under the door’.
Thank you so very much for your close reading and thoughtful comment, Kim! I truly appreciate your kind words.
You’re more than welcome, Merril!
Your poem celebrates a life
It does, Derrick. Thank you.
Such moving words! Simply beautiful Merril ❤️
Thank you very much! 💙
My screen is blurry. This is just so beautifully touching, Merril. My heart is full.
Aww–thank you so much, Dale! 😊
You are most welcome! 🙂
Merril this is the epitome of the prompt
“lithe in the limpid blue,” pure magic and a joy to read
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Laura!
Oh Merril, this rips at the heart. Such genuine sentiment, expressed so tenderly — beautiful writing my friend. 🥲🕊🫶🏼
Thank you very much, Rob. I’m so pleased you think so. 💙
This is such a touching, beautiful poem, Merril. Beautiful, beautiful. ♥♥♥
Thank you very much, Robin! 💙
So poignant. The presence of the absence is tangible. The sea of boxes is such a wonderful framing. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. I like how you put that, “the presence of the absence.” 💙
You are good at capturing a very human moment.
Thank you!
I adore this part Merril:
how we were, lithe in the limpid blue,
then later reading this book, a gift,
you as bright as Keats’ star,
aware your blaze would soon be extinguished.
Love that last line too: sweet dreams always, my love, goodbye.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Grace! 🥰
I love your poem. I don’t know if it meets the prompt or not (and don’t care), it’s a lovely thing to read. I was too tired to work out what it was asking for.
Thank you!
It’ funny how sometimes I imagine a scene.
I often have that feeling with prompts when I’m tired. 🙂
You should maybe write fiction. I always see what I’m writing, but poetry is more describing a feeling than a moving scene.
I admit that I skip all the preamble with prompts, cut straight to what we have to do. I don’t have the patience to work out complicated instructions.
I sometimes do the same thing with prompts, especially when they go on and on. That’s why I try to keep mine short.
I think some of my poems describe a feeling and some a scene, but either way I have an image in my head. 🙂
Some prompts I’ve seen come over more as short lectures. Not what I want late in the evening.
For fiction, I see a film and choose the words to describe it, like a camera running, trying to keep up with it. With poetry the word choice is more complicated. The sound is important and the emphasis. The end up making an image, but we get there by a different route 🙂
I generally just skim or skip the lectures.
I think we have a similar process. 🙂
Surprise, surprise 🙂
🤣🤣
Poignant and a world unto itself. Blue is a rich metaphor here.
As I read the last words, “Geistervarationen” sent its last notes.
So poignant, I am touched beyond your words and the music.
Emotionally moving!
Thank you very much, Resa–ghost variations and ghosts. I suppose my poem could almost have been Clara writing.
I’m so pleased you were so moved. 💙💙
💙💙💙💙
😘
This was so very touching… a remembrance of what never happened perhaps.
Thank you! That’s an interesting idea.
Reblogged this on Graffiti Lux Art & More and commented:
A bittersweet piece from one of my favourite poets. It’s a beautiful blue.
Thank you so much, Resa! 🥰
My pleasure! I adore your writing! 🥰
💙
Dear Merril, I saw this at RESA’s, it’s so beautiful. 💙
Aww–thank you, dear Rene. 💙
You’re welcome!
Lovely use of words to convey such emotions.
janet (via Resa’s)
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Janet!
Merril, this poem is absolutely beautiful. Has a relevant meaning to me. Well done!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I’m pleased you find a personal meaning in my words here.
Heartbreaking, sweet and beautiful.
Thank you very much! 💙
So many alluring phrases here, Merril, written with your signature pathos. Beautiful.
Thank you very much, Dora. I appreciate your kind words.
So beautifully sad.
Thank you very much, Cindy!
Dear Merril,
This goes straight to the heart. Beautiful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Rochelle.
Shalom!
This is a lovely poem.
Thank you so much, Roberta!
This is so beautiful and heartfelt Merril💞
Thank you so much, Cindy! ❤️ I’d forgotten all about this one.
You’re so welcome Merril! 🥰