Paean

‘Poetry is at least elegance and at most a revelation.’ ~ Robert Fitzgerald

Poetry is an alternative form of communication.  It’s another way of getting the drama out and onto the page, it’s another way to paint a picture or perhaps to tell someone how you feel about them when actions fail.  Poetry allows you to forge your feelings into tangible, durable products of art.  It challenges you to consider simple things and shape them into verses of figurative language.  Writing poetry requires generosity and patience on the part of the Poet and in honour of the Muse not written from ego or a pretentious perspective.

There will always be readers who won’t understand the intentions embedded in your writing but that’s the beauty of poetry.  Open to personal interpretation, everyone takes something different from the words based on their perception and taste.  As a writer, it also leaves you a little breathing room, a little bit of anonymity and personal space.  The piece of work becomes an extension of you, of the subject and when shared becomes something entirely different to the hearts and minds of the reader.  There is also the chance to veil specific meanings and your audience be none the wiser.  Ah, the power of words.

Today’s offering is a poem called ‘Paean’.  And, so you don’t have to dig out ‘The Good Book’ again, paean is an expression of praise and exultation often in the form of a lyrical poem or song to convey triumph or thanksgiving. 

Paean

and that’s how it happened

the occasion of piecing together

the thanksgiving hymn

the paean

eulogistic oration

choral invocation

extolling an en endless

poetic compliment

encomium

for someone who knows how to

accept the shade without losing

an ounce of unfettered light

it is an easy task to

calculate the formula of adulation

pen a song of triumph

pose panegyric

for someone stout of heart

and even then

a melodic ode

is a lean accolade

the paean

keenly describes

with affirming messages

your incalculable sustenance

all of which

lessens the bedlam

in my lonely heart

and

eases the tumult

of longing

This was my thanksgiving hymn for someone who lit up my life for a brief spell.  Written when I would have  been too shy to share and the time for revealing the sentiment is long gone.  Words remain.  Ever grateful to beautiful souls who inspire verse.

In propinquity,

Nic