Sunset on Negril Beach, Jamaica
The Poetry Thursday prompt is "who's talking," suggesting we write a poem using dialogue. While my poem doesn't contain actual dialogue, it relates real conversations about a longed-for adventure, deterred by a hurricane.
When I first read the prompt, I had no inspiration and wasn't sure I'd write anything. But last night the phrase "we talked about Jamaica" flew into my head, releasing a flood of memories and inspiring this poem:
For A
We talked about Jamaica:
two weeks of sun and sky,
a balcony in moonlight,
trading truth against a lie.
Probing kisses to quench our thirst
unsatisfied back there,
where others tried to part us
alone at last, so rare.
A walk along the coastline,
the chance to hold my hand;
the joy they wouldn't let us live
in a desert kingdom's land.
No hope for any future
while protocol held sway,
but longed-for precious moments
when we could get away.
A fantasy it was, too;
we knew that all along,
yet tried so hard to make it real
'til winds became too strong.
Our dreams swept up in palm trees
buried deep in island sands;
hidden treasure undiscovered,
fate had dealt its hand.
Warm evenings in the moon's glow
our dreams seemed oh so close
swept away by a hurricane's fury:
lost magic stings the most.
I didn't catch on to (what I read as) the lost nature of this love until "buried deep in island sands"...and then was shocked by "our dreams seemed oh so close / swept away by a hurricane's fury". Poignant, yes. And remarkable.
Posted by: ...deb | 25 May 2007 at 06:49
I didn't catch on to (what I read as) the lost nature of this love until "buried deep in island sands"...and then was shocked by "our dreams seemed oh so close / swept away by a hurricane's fury". Poignant, yes.
Posted by: ...deb | 25 May 2007 at 06:48
This is absolutely heartbreaking and lovely. This brought tears to my eyes.
Posted by: TwilightSpider | 25 May 2007 at 01:21
"lost magic stings the most" - I love this line. I had to read it over and over.
Posted by: sister AE | 24 May 2007 at 23:36
Now I am wondering--did you ever get there? If not, I think it's still there....or is it one of those "the moment has passed" things?
Posted by: pepek | 24 May 2007 at 21:26
I love the last line...and the poignancy.
Posted by: Katie | 24 May 2007 at 20:52
So well written -- beautiful!
Posted by: Clare | 24 May 2007 at 20:24
I love this.... I have felt this same way before.... Thanks for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Sandy | 24 May 2007 at 18:13
Yes, very romantic and utterly sad... that last line is brilliant...
xo
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 24 May 2007 at 16:24
what a lovely piece..I could feel the longing to be alone and free of other entanglements all dsahed and thrown about by the wind..thanks for the visit..madd
Posted by: madd | 24 May 2007 at 16:05
I can relate to this at the moment though its an incompetent travel company rather than a hurrican that has cancelled our holiday!
Posted by: Crafty Green Poet | 24 May 2007 at 16:05
i love the romance here...the hope mingled with the poignant sadness. beautiful.
Posted by: liz elayne | 24 May 2007 at 14:45
your sever keeps telling me it can't handle my comments. I see it handled them twice :-)
Posted by: ren.kat | 24 May 2007 at 14:31
How sweetly melancholy.
I mean sweet in a good, sincere way- not a condescending way. . .
Posted by: ren.kat | 24 May 2007 at 14:22
I can feel the longing here, and imagine the scene as the lovers walk hand in hand, talking about their plans and hopes.
Sigh...so beautiful yet sad, as is so much of life.
Posted by: Becca | 24 May 2007 at 14:13
Hi Tara. I love how the poem matches the photo below it of the red sky. Wonderful job, albeit at the last minute. :)
Rose
xo
Posted by: Rose Dewy Knickers | 24 May 2007 at 13:57
Love the double meaning in the last line -
Posted by: Pauline Clarke | 24 May 2007 at 13:30
Beautiful poem. It holds true for all of us at one timeor the other. Good you did the prompt.
Posted by: gautami | 24 May 2007 at 12:13
Beautiful my friend~!
Blessings~!
Love Jeanne ^j^
Posted by: Jeanne | 24 May 2007 at 11:57
Tara,
Beautiful!
rel
Posted by: rel | 24 May 2007 at 10:10
Your blogs brilliant, Tara, but whats happened to your Library section that you had on the sidebar yesterday?? I forget to bookmark it.
Posted by: Peter | 24 May 2007 at 09:24
What a beautiful poem, and the photo too. I've just got your postcard away in the post today.
Posted by: Catherine | 24 May 2007 at 06:14
trading truth against a lie. A GREEEAAAT line!
Posted by: wendy | 24 May 2007 at 03:33
Oh, this was such a poignantly romantic poem, Tara. Like sandcastles, some romances are carried away by the wind and the water. Hurricanes intervene. Sigh...
I've missed reading your writing so - now I must catch up!
XOXO
Posted by: tinker | 24 May 2007 at 03:15
Awesome poem. So much romance, the way it is meant to be, sad and full of dispair. Such is life. The last two stanzas really grabbed me and would not let go.
Your readers really love you. Such a great writer and you actually have a background in it. I wish you all the best. :)
Posted by: clockworkchris | 24 May 2007 at 03:06
Oh Tara, this was so romantic, sad and mysterious. I'm glad you did the prompt even though it was bittersweet. XXOO
BTW Thank you so much for my beautiful postcard. You really got how profound of a loss it truly was.
Much love your way!
Posted by: Tammy | 24 May 2007 at 00:56