A Condition of the Heart
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Eis, zugefrorener See
Florentin Moser
my heart feels distant
meted out in the periphery of my vision
its edges bristled
without my understanding why
with eyes slit
i can spy it
across the horizon of my days
glistening in the hardened light
the center cracked under a burden
bargained and paid for
with tears fixed in place
by dime store mascara
and i wonder if i will find my way
across it's face
before it is too late
to soften toward spring again
copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2013
posted for dVerse Poets
sad, beautiful and oh, so vivid. I really like the line of the mascara held in place ...brings it up close and personal.
ReplyDeletesometimes winter, and the metaphor of winter can seem so long for as dark as it gets...and as cold...and we wonder if we will ever see the light again, but the seasons remind us as well...spring always comes...so keep on walking...smiles.
ReplyDeleteThe second stanza is just incredible. I love the imagery.
ReplyDeleteI specially like the ending stanza ~ Winter here is so long that I can just dream of spring right now ~ Happy Tuesday ~
ReplyDeleteOh, I can picture those tears held in place by dime store mascara. I like the hopefulness at the end, the softening toward spring!
ReplyDeletethe winter hardness can settle deep
ReplyDeleteas your words so beautifully sing...
Like the depth of yearning in this, Audrey - beautifully done... With Best wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com
ReplyDeleteI like this glimpsing. Sometimes when I write poetry I have to squint my eyes to see what is inside better.
ReplyDeleteThe winter of life is dreary... the hope of spring may be seen at the horizon. One has to keep on looking for the way. Thoughtful writing, well-penned.
ReplyDelete-HA
Ah so the heart is struck a dull note, dues paid, now more deserving.
ReplyDeleteCome on spring!
A whimsical write, despairing in part, hopeful in the greater whole.
Cheers!
"the center cracked under a burden
ReplyDeletebargained and paid for
with tears fixed in place
by dime store mascara"
Such great use of metaphor, such imposing visuals you have painted here. A fractured heart still has hope of mending. Well written, indeed.
softening towards spring... i think it's never too late to let the icy parts melt you know... cool take on the pic and ha...was wondering when i read the german title of the pic..smiles
ReplyDeleteAs others have commented, that line about dime store mascara really stands out of what is a tightly penned piece.
ReplyDeleteThe heart is a well filled with myriad emotions
ReplyDeleteA little of a distraction with coldness of winter which may be cold drab and dark. But knowing spring will follow can be a big consolation. Stay on with it. Great write Audrey!
ReplyDeleteHank
Other readers pick out certain stanzas:
ReplyDeleteI can see nothing but a whole complete wonderful poem.
Brilliant concept executed with finesse.
One of those 'I wish I had written this'.
Sad and beautiful and leaves one with just a glimmer of hope. Loved this and pearling it.
ReplyDeleteA truly magnificent poem, filled with the emotions winter often brings with the hope of Spring to soften all the hard places. Beautiful Audrey!
ReplyDeleteI love your poetry, Audra. Whatever it is you do, you seem to speak to my heart with your words. Thank you for the beauty you bring into this world.
ReplyDeleteLove the last stanza.
ReplyDeleteThis was so easy to feel. So easy to feel the feelings of the poet. Each word was a perfect choice. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYes, you can. With words like yours, we all can.
ReplyDeleteOf love is never smooth
ReplyDeleteSuch an effective parallelism of the effects of winter and emotions. How the weather affects us! Well done.
ReplyDeleteSoftening toward spring.. yes still to far away.. great words
ReplyDeleteI too love that last line - softening towards spring sounds just right: suddenly I am thinking 'duvet', now (it's late here)...
ReplyDeleteThat's the lovely thing - spring always comes again
ReplyDeleteIt's all broken ice and broken hearts - It looks and feels familiar - beautiful work.
ReplyDeletesad and beautiful… I have faith that the softening will come.
ReplyDeleteSoftening towards spring... yes. Tears held IN PLACE by mascara is a haunting image... usually it's smeared mascara or raccoon eyes or what have you. But placing the tears in stasis was very effective. A small detail that popped out as I enjoyed this lovely poem. Amy
ReplyDeleteSo visual - it made me think about the seasons and then compare them to relationships and hope the softening is a good thing like spring is....
ReplyDeleteLovely work, Audrey. I found your site through Alexandra and had to come check it out because you have been one of my favorites on Hubpages.
ReplyDeleteThank you Wayne! So glad you found me here
DeleteBeautiful work Audrey. This really touched my heart.
ReplyDeletebeautiful.. loved the end. such great imagery
ReplyDelete(I'm not sure if the system ate my previous comment, if not, sorry for repeating).
Hi Natasa--I tried to follow your link back to you from here, but was directed to a google+ site in Chinese--I didn't think it was you
DeleteI admire the way you paint a vivid painting with just a few, well chosen words. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI searched around for a more updated blog post, but for some reason couldn't find something more recent. Regardless, I'm glad I found this one. It resonates with my own feelings at times, when melancholy just lingers from a heart piercing.
ReplyDelete