Marble sculpture by Bernini
I won't promise you the apple
My love is not always sweet & ripe
But they're yours to keep like petals
plucked, crowning your golden hair
My words can be thistle & inferno
I won't promise you, the apple
Under sky of summer blue
I live in sea of flames, crimson as my hands
But they're yours to return to, like petals
pressed of lily, violets and white trillium
Bounded with pomegranate seeds
I won't promise you the apple
Only its seeds that harbors spring
And comes with steady beat, My love
They are yours. Keep them as petals
perfumed of devouring storm. Fear no falls
As I will always be here, your safe landing
I promise you, not only the apple, but fruits
of all my seasons, yours to keep, unpetalled-
Inspired by ending line of Carilda Olivar Labra's poem:
Eve's Discourse: my love, and I promise you the apple.
Posted for Imaginary Garden for Real Toads - Promising hosted by Karin
and Poets United - A villanelle form of a sort ~ Thanks for the visit ~
Oh I really love how you put your variation to the Villanelle..The imagery of apple and seeds give this such a connection to the Myths of Eve and the poetry of Carilda.. The last stanza really is my favorite when the fruit is full and promises are strong.
ReplyDeleteand hopefully they learn to appreciate all the fruits
ReplyDeleteof you, your life, your love...and i like the acknowledgement
early on that they will not always be sweet and ripe...
"Under sky of summer blue
ReplyDeleteI live in sea of flames, crimson as my hands"
Such vivid lines. I can see the colors, feel the heat... and I can't stop looking at those hands, considering what blushed them so brightly.
Nice match to beautiful sculpture, your words -- alive. Esp. I love 'seeds that harbors spring
ReplyDeleteAnd comes with steady beat,' and image of 'safe landing'.
A very cool take on a villanelle, Grace, and on the idea of apple not just as Eve's apple but genuine fruit--a very loving poem--thanks so much for including it with the prompt. k. (Manicddaily)
ReplyDeleteI love the call to the senses in this, the way the flowers and the fruit echo and enforce the stages of love, the experience of loving--also, the form is very effective and well-used. That picture you chose is remarkable as well--hard to believe that stone can look so soft.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful love poem! It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love the comparison with the apple and fruits. It's perfect! :)
This is lovely, Grace. I really like the last stanza....not only the apple, but fruits of all seasons. I cannot imagine anyone who would not appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteThat sculpture is amazing - I don't think I've ever seen it before...and your love poem is gorgeous and like Mary I love the last stanza.
ReplyDeleteNot everything is always cheery and bright, but it does all work into love
ReplyDeletehave a rosy day today.
ReplyDeletepowerful thoughts up there.
Awesome!
ReplyDeleteZQ
This is a really lovely promise, Grace. You have brought a very modern feel to the villanelle which I like very much.
ReplyDeleteNot promised, yet promised. I get the sense that the giving depends somewhat on meeting and being together ... Lovely images, riots of flowers.
ReplyDeletesexy and tense thoughts...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful imagery Grace--fruit unpettalled--really lovely close!
ReplyDeleteThis is a promise all of us could keep, if honest and true to self. I love the many faces of love and affection.
ReplyDeleteOh what a beautiful spinoff from Labra's line. Glorious to read, lush with imagery, with stellar closing lines that lift the heart!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I loved this especially the wonderful end!
ReplyDeleteLove that last word, unpetalled-- and-- promise :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite lines:
ReplyDelete"I live in sea of flames, crimson as my hands
But they're yours to return to, like petals
pressed of lily, violets and white trillium
Bounded with pomegranate seeds"
An intimate giving espoused in your words. Fruit is romance food and you use it deliciously.
I liked the opening stanza..I won't promise you the apple..it is better not to promise the apple as life is full of ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteI like what you did with the form, Grace, as well as the overall message. As humans there is only so much we can promise but we can promise to keep to our word rather than promise what we cannot keep.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely beautiful poem Grace… I loved the repetition of the word "petals" as a keepsake.
ReplyDeleteI like that the kind of love you expressed here is something not convulsive & selfish, Grace. This is a stellar piece!
ReplyDelete- ksm
So soft, delicate yet strong, steady, passionate & very much uplifting....
ReplyDelete"keep them as petals perfumed of devouring storm" I just love that!
ReplyDelete"promise you, not only the apple, but fruits
ReplyDeleteof all my seasons, yours to keep, unpetalled-" ..... loved the lines...beautiful!
Aw. Such a sweet promise.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a far more realistic and honest promise...we can't invest our hopes in one thing alone...thoughtful and immersive poetry
ReplyDeleteYour refrain works well here, on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteNo love is always sweet and ripe. I like the honesty in this, and the promise of petals and fruit. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, especially your ending.
ReplyDeleteWow, yet anther gorgeous poem from your pen.
ReplyDeletethe desires are obvious,
ReplyDeletevery hot imagery.
A very appropriate poem for the Valentines weekend.
ReplyDelete…but fruits of all my seasons.
ReplyDeleteThat is what love is all about and this has a very honest voice - love isn't always a bed or roses.
just gorgeous ~
ReplyDelete