I DREDGE my soul for buried memories.
The pomp of perished ages, once divine,
Breaks dawn-like over realms that gleam and shine
Mysterious through dark straggling forest trees.
I dream, and I become the lord of Time;
Life eddies, and afresh
Far billowing years re-echo me sublime –
My sleep is mine to purge me of my flesh.
Pale petal-soft her kisses on my cheek
Once woke me laughing. Sorrow shall not cease
Now, though the vaults of stale regret release
Bleak floods of blind desire, which fain would seek
Oblivion through the palsied night and wait,
Numbed, being freed from life –
Heedless and hopeless, speechless, desolate –
Freed from the dread that goads men into strife.
I pledge my anguish frenzied, having left
Scarce refuse of remorse – for I have known
All her sweet moods of wanton mirth and moan.
All shameless states of godhead, and bereft
Have grovelled starving when dim years in dust
Like shrouded dreams uprose –
Arose, submerging me, and I was thrust
Down hell-ward, shrieking: never night shall close.
Pale petal-soft her kisses once were shed
Warm on my lips, all fragrant with the spring;
And never moments falter by but bring
Back echoes of her laughter: she is dead.
Along dumb shores of darkling misery,
Where gaunt cliffs drip with sweat,
Far in my sleep I seek her zealously –
Far in my dreams I wander, woe-beset.
I dredge my soul for buried memories.
And all the joyous pomp of withered days.
My own, I yield her tribute to her praise;
For all men’s sorrow that the whole earth sees
Through age-worn worlds I suffer, knowing this:
That never a hope or sigh
Can waken her – yea, though I feel her kiss –
For she is dead. My grief can never die.
(E J Rupert Atkinson)
More Poetry from E J Rupert Atkinson:
E J Rupert Atkinson Poems based on Topics: Night, Life, Joy & Excitement, Sadness, Desire, Dreams, Time, Hope, Laughter, Grief, Memory- In The Realm Of Night (E J Rupert Atkinson Poems)
- The King Of Sardis (E J Rupert Atkinson Poems)
- Omar Dead (E J Rupert Atkinson Poems)
- A Vikings Death (E J Rupert Atkinson Poems)
- Promethean (E J Rupert Atkinson Poems)
- Egyptian Lyrics (E J Rupert Atkinson Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Life Poems, Night Poems, Sadness Poems, Time Poems, Nature Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Dreams Poems, Hope Poems, Sleep Poems, Spring Poems, Praise PoemsBased on Keywords: billowing, re-echo, goads, zealously, grovelled, dredge, hell-ward, submerging, dawn-like, age-worn