choose clear, choose love: more traditional rhyming verse for the new year

I am regularly delighted (though not totally surprised any more)
when this traditional rhyming verse form insists on making itself known.
The mood always leads me back to artists of the Pre-Raphaelite period, but
since I am no student of poetry, I am not quite sure what else to call it.
This one seems kin to the 2011 Prayer for Wholeness (below).

La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Frank Cadogan Cowper, 1926

The past now sealed, it bears no weight
On future’s yield nor journey’s fate
For what once was remains behind
And all not yet still seeks to find
That word, that glance, both now grown old
Defeat, despair run icy cold

Retain your breath, make holy fire
The past asks not nor doth conspire
To fill your days nor nights now born
Awake! The lark sings forth the morn
As in the birthing bed you lie
Beneath sun’s gaze, fair feathers fly

To all who once I gave my soul
In rapture framed, envisaged gold
I beg you now, pray understand,
I touched in you the heart of man
Unearthly nights of untold bliss,
Dare not to say, “It was not this!”
Continue on your destined ride and answer,
Who shall be your bride?
If not the one whose song, your heart,
Still swoon at dawn, when once you part
The chord struck down, the lyre mute
All truth is love as love bears truth
In time this garden barren, drained
Will bloom divine where love hath lain.

Such love as this was never known
What’s hers is his, hair, flesh and bone
Reflection gleams within your eyes
And all you see is paradise!
Love will not wait by yonder stile
Nor slog through mud not one more mile
But follow moon and stars and sun
Where all divided cleave as one

This moon, she beckons, draws me near,
Rinses clean all false-born fear
And none too soon her glimmer wanes
Forgives all want, surceases pain,
And in their stead new life does sprout
Upending brings joy roundabout!
One simple task adorns your brow:
Choose clear, choose love,
Quick! Choose them now.

5 thoughts

  1. as a human being in this culture, turning my back on the past is the challenge of my life. and my joy depends on it. i really dig your be quick wisdom at the end. there’s an instinctive slowness to wisdom, but some things don’t require pondering at all, i don’t think. like giving and receiving love.
    this piece is a little gem.
    how you doing? great to see you. i’m getting over a rugged year, really looking to put the past behind me.
    you make me proud to be a pisces:)

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  2. Tekia, Akasa WolfSong, Earthianne,

    Thank you, Beautiful Goddesses, for sharing your infinite spirit of Love with the entire world. May blessings abound in this year of unparalleled opportunities!

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  3. I love rhyming poems! And I love this piece. This should be read by all who keeps dwelling in the past. I choose loud and clear and I choose LOVE. I guess you know it by now. :)

    Happy new year!

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  4. “This moon, she beckons, draws me near,
    “Rinses clean all false-born fear
    And none too soon her glimmer wanes
    Forgives all want, surceases pain,
    And in their stead new life does sprout
    Upending brings joy roundabout!
    One simple task adorns your brow:
    Choose clear, choose love,
    Quick! Choose them now.”

    You’ve said it all for me here, Rachel…One simple task adorns my brow, choose clear, choose love, Quick! choose them now.

    May this New Year bring you Many Blessings, Much Love, Kindness and Compassion in All Things, and Great Peace my Holy Sister of Light!

    Like

  5. A lovely piece Rachel. I enjoyed reading this piece and I liked the language of it. Wonderful imagery here as well :-) Happy New Year!

    Like

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