Once upon an ancient time
in the days of dust and innocence
Mr. Clements at the gate
holding hands with D. H. Lawrence
—thank you, Mr. Clements; thank you—
Nitah from the old landscape
leaning on an open window
fragile; trusting;
all soft curls and dancing bracelets.
Her kindness touched my life
and all that was ever good
shivered and trembled in my hands.
A shy afternoon— chastity and desire on a little yellow bed an avalanche of passion and all our days of spring; her first cry, her scent and her whispers.
We never said goodbye,
not properly. There were no
last words, no kind lies or
promises of friendship.
We walked away silently,
both too young to have known
such sadness.
Gower Street is now another place.
The coffee shop, the park, the little
cinema— all gone.
This is now a new world for old lives.
One, two, three hours go by.
How? When?
The shadows are so much longer.
How quickly morning turned to dusk. A few words about the poem…
Gower Street | A Poetic Tapestry of Longing and Nostalgia | Coming-of-Age Poems
In the poem “Gower Street” by the Cyprus poet Chris Zachariou, the reader is transported to a bygone era where innocence and desire intermingle, evoking a tapestry of emotions that lingers long after the final verse. This mesmerizing coming-of-age poem, written with a delicate touch of poetic grace, invites us to embark on a journey through the depths of love and loss, where fragments of forgotten memories and lingering passions find solace within its lines.
Through evocative imagery and tender nuances, the poet captures the essence of a time when innocent youth traversed the cobblestone paths of Gower Street. The poem's opening lines, reminiscent of an age-old tale, set the stage for a narrative brimming with whispered confessions and hidden desires.
At the heart of this melancholy poem, Nitah an ethereal presence from the ancient homeland, leans upon an open window exuding fragility, and trust. Her kindness touches the speaker, causing all that is good in him to awaken in his life.
The delicate dance of chastity and desire unfolds upon a little yellow bed, where an avalanche of passion collides with the blossoming days of spring. The poet's vivid descriptions paint a tableau of raw emotion, from her lingering scent and her hushed whispers to her first cry in their first adult encounter.
Amidst the poignant beauty, the poem reveals an undercurrent of longing and unfulfilled farewells. No proper goodbyes are exchanged, leaving the reader to ponder the weight of unsaid words, promises left unfulfilled, and a myriad of what-ifs.
As the hours tick by, shadows lengthen and morning seamlessly transitions into dusk, offering a poignant reminder of life's fleeting nature. The poem's lyrical rhythm and haunting imagery attempt to capture the reader's imagination, immersing them in a world of profound sadness where youth grapples with the depths of sorrow beyond their tender years.
Gower Street, once a vibrant tapestry of coffee shops, parks, and its tiny cinema, now stands as a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the transient nature of human connection. It encapsulates the essence of forbidden allure and the bittersweet longing that resonates within the human soul. With each line, the poet weaves a tapestry of emotions, inviting the reader to reflect on the timeless themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of memory.
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