Dreams
The city sleeps now,
caged and tamed behind
my mind’s most sensual schemes.
And here, where starlight
shines between the bars
of my desire, you wait.
Not looking at the lover’s moon
or me,
but sensing with distracted eyes,
the fearsome ties, which
bind us to the joy to come,
and gives our fun some purpose
far beyond the trap I’d built to house
the sweet compliance of your lust.
I wake regretfully,
and all this promise turns to dust.
Far below the city's squalor
waits the coming dawn.
waits the coming dawn.
When open cages
spill onto its stony streets
the remnants of
our scarce remembered dreams.
©James Rainsford 2011
Note to readers: Posted to Pot Luck at Jingle Poetry on Monday 18th July. This poem was written as a response to this intriguing image. Your views are most welcome. Please click on the comments tab below.
Quite a dream prison. Stunning lines in both poem and photo. Great emphasis on the fleeting quality of dreams at the end.
ReplyDeletethis has some nice grit to it james...love the description of the after in the last stanza...the spilling out remnant...wishing i could go back to that house built of lust...
ReplyDeleteA very polished and sincere take on love, fantasy and dream--lines I esp liked for their toothsomeness ( a word to match the photo subject) were "..the bars of my desire...the trap I’d built to house/the sweet compliance of your lust.." and the entire sonorous closing stanza. A beautiful piece, James. (I am wondering why she has her shoes on, but hey. ;_) )
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe dreamscape you conveyed
ReplyDeleteReally caused thoughts to be laid
I agree the image is full on intrigue
As into it your words dig
Like how you used the waking of day
Through the cage opening and once again people set forth in there dismay
Only to long for what they dreamt past
Wishing the day away fast
You have such a unique eye, James, not only in your photography, but also in your mind's eye. I can see this perfectly, and yet never would have thought of it.
ReplyDeleteDelightful piece, James - just as fine as the image that inspired it. Looks quite in thought, she does, caught by that prison in the sky...lovely reflection on dreams. The second stanza, which reads essentially as an epilogue flows out in a fine cascade that captures wholly the mood of the work. Fine stuff.
ReplyDeleteI awake regretfully and all this promise...to dust...
ReplyDeleteoh the sadest way to wake...and all is dust....so sweet, yet the loss of love....bkm
Dreams are fascinating things. This lovely poem intertwines city, home and dreams together, as dreams do. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnother write that will linger long after I leave this space. As always, masterfully weaved words, combined with mysterious and compelling image...(I noted the shoes as well!lol) The choice of language reads beautifully, but the sadness stays at the end. Dare to dream! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it but you have such a talent for hitting the target dead centre every time:
ReplyDeletebut sensing with distracted eyes,
the fearsome ties, which
bind us to the joy to come...
This is as previous comments have stated, bang on. Eerie and dark, but yet always hopeful something better is on its way. Great one shot James
ReplyDeleteErotic image matched and contrasted with a set of sensual and sadder lines
ReplyDeleteGreat write! I love the final lines. I'm going to go ponder if I have any remnants that need to be let out of their cage... :)
ReplyDeletenice! great poem n pic
ReplyDeletegreat imagery,
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking.
That's one of the best poems about dreams I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great picture to go with it, too!
ReplyDeleteI love this, the picture the words it's really quite sexy. I love the imagery
ReplyDelete