do all lovers feel like they're inventing something?
after The Portrait of a Lady on Fire (dir. Céline Sciamma)
inventing a prayer that begins without a
please
inventing a god that
forgives
painting a portrait -
on fire
with each brush stroke
I do naught but forget
e v e r y one
in the flames
red
is nothing but the
sky fallen onto
your lips
so close to mine
sweating wine
I can taste your sighs
between my teeth
& I promise fireflies
flickering
are just lovers
remembering.
your tongue
tastes of liquid sunshine
your words therefore
a golden honey river,
sweetening
my veins
when I tell you
I have arms only wide enough
to gather your name
I mean in my hurry to love you,
I forgot to say -
Amen Amen Amen
and absolution passed through me -
untouched.
little did I know, god saw in us a heaven
destined to fail
I abandoned my hope
in spring - a poet’s choice
thankfully, Vivaldi also composed ‘summer’
and all I ever wanted was
to be there
with you.
to build a burning house
of what’s left
of your memory
and walk into it ablaze
so do all poets feel like they’re inventing something?
"yes"
***
Vocal is not optimised for formatted poetry and I believe the formatting in this poem plays a very important role, so if you want to check how it was originally meant to be, see below:
***
Thank you for reading. Cinema is a big part of my life and when a film like Portrait of a Lady on Fire comes along, it becomes indelibly etched within my consciousness. I have thought about this film at least twice a week since I first saw it back in 2019. Director Céline Sciamma meticulously shapes this cinematic gem, evoking a sensation akin to gazing into a mesmerizing bonfire—wherein one drifts away yet remains fully immersed. Every flicker of the flame captivates, with just one distinction - unlike the bonfire, this film will guarantee to bring tears to the eyes. If there's one thing I urge you to take away from this, let it be this film as a recommendation.
If you enjoyed this, you might like my other pieces too, do check them out.
About the Creator
Mesh Toraskar
A wannabe storyteller from London. Sometimes words spill out of me and the only way to mop the spillage is to write them down.
"If you arrive here, remember, it wasn't you - it was me, in my longing, who found you."
Keep reading
More stories from Mesh Toraskar and writers in Poets and other communities.
- Runner-Up in Identity Challenge
Be Your Own Advocate Challenge
So, folks...I wanted to do something a bit different for my next challenge thingo. I wanted to turn things back on you - as many of you have been firm and constant supporters of me and I always feel I've been a let down in terms of reciprocating.
By Paul Stewart3 days ago in Writers
Comments (19)
Just gorgeous, Mesh. Well done.
Really nice poem and format
loved it!
This is beyond beautiful. So very well done. Congrats on a well deserved Top Story.
Congratulations on your Top Story,
Very well done! Congratulations on your Top Story,
Powerful!
Well Written My Dear...... Great One.......Congratulations on your Top Story,
Gorgeous poem. Your words sweep up the heart and then carry it along safely. Looking forward to seeing the film that inspired such warm and soulful art. Congratulations on top story too!
YES! I’d hoped this would get their attention. 👏👏👏 That Discord recommendation thread really works! Congrats, Mesh!
That was so beautiful! The formatting definitely added to the experience for me.
I wish the formatting was better for sure! I loved your poem! 🥰
Mesh, this is an extraordinary poem! I watched the film and really likes it.
Fantastic & loved it!!! Congratulations on Top Story!!@❤️❤️💕
I thought this was absolutely beautiful. Fantastic writing.
Awesome Writing ❤️📝 Congratulations on your Top Story🎉🎉
This is so wonderful. I loved the line "I abandoned my hope/ in spring - a poet’s choice/ thankfully, Vivaldi also composed ‘summer’". I literally GASPED. Fantastic work. You gained a new subscriber, and I'm looking forward to reading more
This is an amazing sensory experience, Mesh. I'm in awe of your words. "red is nothing but the sky fallen onto your lips so close to mine sweating wine I can taste your sighs between my teeth" Wow. To taste sighs between teeth...that is a gorgeously rich description of intimacy and love. I LOVE that. Also, "little did I know, god saw in us a heaven destined to fail I abandoned my hope in spring - a poet’s choice thankfully, Vivaldi also composed ‘summer’" This bit of the narrative is just beautiful. Imagining the speaker being forced to leave the relationship, but seeing their life go on...but the way you did it, by referencing Vivaldi's Summer is just an amazing choice. So much sensory details within that single reference, so much emotion to match it. Wonderful work, as always. I'm sorry I didn't engage with this 10 days ago when you published it! ❤️ PS: Do a little research on invisible characters and try experimenting with them when you post a poem that has unique formatting. I've been able to publish empty lines and multiple spaces to indent lines and space letters out. On my Mac, I do Alt (Option) + spacebar to achieve this, but depending on your computer, you may need a numerical code.
''your lips so close to mine sweating wine'' - Perfect description of a desire you cannot control. Excellent work!