Across the ocean in a country far away a moth cocooned works night and day forging exquisite silk until a day in early spring she flees her yellow prison and the little butterfly flies free. She comes into the magic forest and gifts the king the colours of the rainbow her laughter and her smile and shackles made of silk. The King , at last, begins her song silence broken and lips unlocked. Part of the   mosaics   cycle of poems

Tonight the street is so dark that it seems it's nearly bright and a lusty giggly moon is crawling up the sky. The band is getting ready on the fiddle we have a chimp with the bear playing the drums and the canary is going to sing. The wine is flowing all night and the frog is feeling dizzy; he is jigging on the roof my God that could be tricky. The dog is feeling frisky with the cat that got the cream they are in love with each other and are dancing cheek to cheek. All the misfits and the oddballs and the creatures of the night, saucy girls and naughty boys they are having a good time. Old Nick is so distressed he is feeling rather ill cause he is getting no reply when he calls his little imp. Part of the   mosaics   cycle of poems

Unhappy and betrayed the butterfly has fled her shelter. Now the humbled wordsmith works late into the night weaving words to write a song but words do not come easy and their rhymes no longer chime. Part of the   mosaics   cycle of poems

Parnassus was the prize. She breezed, I struggled. Soon I will be so very old and now Atthis loves another. "Go to her," I said and still I hoped; but she stays silent. Read A short biography of Sappho the ancient world's greatest poet This poem is part of the collection of poems Sappho

I wandered into the orchard. I saw blossom on the trees and I thought of you. I wandered into the meadow. I saw a butterfly and a rose in love and I thought of us. I wandered into our street. I saw you at the window and my heart was filled with joy. A few words about the poem…   I Thought of You: A Coming-of-Age Poem Portraying Love and Reflection   "I thought of you," from the series “A Coming-of-Age Poem,” unfolds in three distinct, yet interconnected stanzas, each portraying a vivid scene that evokes emotional reflection.   The first stanza places the reader in an orchard, where the sight of blossoming trees triggers thoughts of a significant other. This image of renewal and beauty encapsulates the theme of memory and connection.   Transitioning to the second stanza, the poem moves to a meadow where a butterfly and a rose symbolize a delicate and harmonious love. This imagery deepens the sense of personal reflection, drawing a parallel between the natural world's beauty and the speaker's romantic relationship.   In the final stanza, the setting shifts to a familiar street, culminating in the sight of a loved one at a window. This moment of recognition and the resultant joy underscores the poem's central theme of love and the deep emotional bonds that tie individuals together.   The simplicity of the language and the gentle progression from nature to personal interaction create a cohesive narrative, making "I thought of you" a contemplative piece on love and remembrance.

I see their names carved in stone on marble crosses with roots of bone trees dripping with death and tears bloodlines buried for a thousand years perched forever on this barren hill obedient keepers of our Fathers’ Will.

I sprinkled stardust in your hair. You smiled and I was lost.

Death was brutal. The child gasped for air but there was none. Mamma closed her eyes bathed her in lavender and dressed her in a shroud. Roses and carnations frankincense and jasmine the scent of burning censers laments and flaxen light. Yet grief is all deceiving. She is only sleeping they cry. But the child is dead. She will never hear her mamma's cries; she will never see the tears in her papa's eyes. Her light goes out chants and burning incense closed doors and blinds rolled down a final look; a gift of soil; a slice of bread; a glass of oil; and through the open earth she vanishes into the arms of death. Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses A few words about the poem… The Funeral, A Poignant Elegy of Loss and Farewell – from The Cyprus Poems The "The Funeral", a death and grief poem—part of the series "Thirteen Silk Verses" from the collection Cyprus Poems—delicately unfurls a heart-wrenching scene of loss and mourning. It captures the sombre aftermath of a young girl’s passing, enveloping the reader in an atmosphere of grief and sorrow, and fleeting moments of connection with the departed. The poem portrays the brutality of death and the heartbreak that follows. The girl’s struggle for breath is a vivid depiction of life's fragile nature, met with the cruel inevitability of its end. As her life ebbs away, the absence of air is palpable, heightening the emotional weight of the scene. The grieving process takes shape through the mother's actions, whose tender gestures are an embodiment of love and farewell. Closing her eyes, she bathes her in the calming essence of lavender, shrouding her in a final embrace. This intimate moment of care and devotion contrasts with the harshness of death, offering a bittersweet testament to the depth of a parent's love. The poem's imagery is rich and evocative, painting a picture of the funeral scene with vivid strokes. Roses, carnations, frankincense, and jasmine, all contribute to the sensory atmosphere of the occasion. The scent of burning censers mingles with the laments of mourners, and a flaxen light casts a soft glow over the sombre proceedings. These intricate details create an immersive experience for the reader, allowing them to step into the world of the Greek Orthodox funeral rituals and through a journey of sorrow, where moments of connection and final goodbyes merge into the fabric of memory. Amidst the outward displays of grief, the poem delves into the internal struggle of those left behind. The refrain of "She is only sleeping they cry" reveals the profound desire to deny the reality of death, to hold onto the hope that the departed is merely resting. This universal yearning for comfort and solace resonates with anyone who has experienced the painful void left by loss. The poem's closing lines encapsulate the finality of death's grasp. The child's light is extinguished, the rituals of mourning unfold, and the earth swallows her into the embrace of the afterlife. This stark portrayal of the cycle of life and death is a reminder of the ephemeral nature of existence, as well as the enduring power of memory.

On the first day of June she crossed the lines of innocence and was budding to the world. She walked into the forest with timid steps and a smile of sin dancing on her newborn breasts. Together we sang lullabies, and played love songs on my guitar once taught me by the master. Aroused by our sinless flesh under a star-strewn sky, we shed our seven veils of modesty innocence was lost in innocence and in the shade of the acacia tree we loved openly and without guilt. I thought God was good I thought God was kind and I thanked him for his gift. But my god was a jealous god and he killed her in the morning. Now she is calling me to go and I, with an unfinished song and my broken guitar across my back I must sail the river Acheron. Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses A few words about the poem… The River Acheron: A Journey Through the Underworld | Cyprus Poems Within the tapestry of “The River Acheron" poem, the veil between the mortal realm and the underworld is delicately explored. This death and grief poem, nestled within the series "Thirteen Silk Verses" of the Cyprus Poems collection, beckons the reader to traverse the realms of Greek mythology and timeless human emotions. The poem commences on the cusp of June, a juncture that symbolizes transition and metamorphosis. The speaker reminisces about a maiden, a figure of innocence, who embarks on a path beyond the boundaries of the accepted societal norms. As she steps into the forest, her journey is marked by a juxtaposition of timidity and the allure of newfound knowledge. Echoes of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice resonate as the speaker and the maiden harmonize in melody, creating a momentary sanctuary of musical enchantment. Here, the guitar serves as a conduit of expression, reminiscent of Orpheus' legendary lyre that tamed the very heart of Hades. The veils of modesty cascade in a dance of symbolism, their descent akin to Eurydice's fading presence in the underworld's shadow. Yet, the moment of unity is marred by the jealousy of a divine figure, mirroring the forces that thwarted Orpheus' attempt to rescue his beloved Eurydice. This divine intervention brings a tragic end to the maiden's life, illuminating the inexorable nature of fate and the fragility of mortal existence. The river Acheron emerges as a potent motif, signifying the passage between life and death, with the journey across its waters evoking the mythological trope of crossing the Styx to the realm of the dead. The speaker's call to embark on this journey, bearing a broken guitar and an unfinished song, mirrors Orpheus' descent to the underworld in search of Eurydice. The poem delves into the intricate fabric of human experience, juxtaposing innocence and transgression, melody and silence, life and death. The exploration of Greek mythology and its interplay with the human narrative adds layers of depth and universality to the theme of loss. In the poem's contemplative tone and mythical allusions, readers are invited to introspect upon the profound aspects of existence that bridge the human and the divine. The "River Acheron" resonates as a meditation on mortality, echoing the echoes of ancient myths while weaving a timeless narrative of the human journey into the unknown.

in the beginning— her light, always her light then noon; penicillin and a needle full of death death, so much death flows this morning in Verona and that pit, years and years deep lurking in the corner of the marble garden— arms and bones tangled, broken and the smell of death but where are her bones with the scent of honey and myrrh and who will now reap the grain from the yellow fields of August no! no! no! harvester sheath your scythe I will not let her wander all alone in the sterile garden my gentle old priest, please take this grief away from me here is a loaf of leavened bread for your kind service Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses A few words about the poem… Giulietta: The Tragic Death of a Young Girl | Cyprus Poems In the series "Thirteen Silk Verses" from the collection Cyprus Poems, "Giulietta" stands as a poignant testament to the themes of death and grief. With echoes of Verona, this love and loss poem weaves a tale of light and darkness, and death's unyielding grip between the tragic fate of the series' heroine and that of Juliet. As noon approaches, the atmosphere in the small town thickens with the weight of mortality. A pit of sorrow, deep and unyielding, remains hidden in the marble garden, a solemn reminder of life's fragility. Amidst broken arms and bones entwined, the scent of death lingers like a melancholic melody. Yet amidst this poignant scene, questions arise. Where are Giulietta's bones, fragrant with honey and myrrh? Surely her bones cannot be amongst those marked by the smell of death! And who will tend to the yellow fields of August, reaping the grain that has been left behind? The urgency builds, an anguished plea resounds. A harvester is urged to sheathe his scythe, to halt the inexorable march of time. Since her light no longer illuminates the world, how will he be able to see the yellow fields? The speaker, overcome with grief, refuses to let Giulietta wander alone in the sterile garden of eternity. In this moment of heartache, a gentle old priest is invoked. With the offering of a loaf of leavened bread, a plea is made for solace, for the priest's kind service to take away the burden of grief. "Giulietta" stands as a touching reflection on the universality of grief, drawing a parallel to the series' overarching narrative. The poem resonates with the themes of death and sorrow, reminding us of the delicate threads that connect human experiences across time and place. As a part of "Thirteen Silk Verses," it further enriches the tapestry of Cyprus Poems, inviting readers to delve into the intricate web of emotions woven through this evocative collection.

Brother, do you remember me I am the one before your life I'm the one without a name. I was cursed and banished from the garden of our fathers with a cross upon my shoulders— a burden for the sins of others. I had no bread, I had no wine and no redemption from the Sin. I had no flowers, I had no shrine under the elderberry tree. I was taken to the river with half a coin in my hand and on the bank I lay waiting for the ferryman to come. His face was a shadow he was as old as time itself and when I asked him for his name with a cold smile said 'guess'. We sailed across the river and entered in the marble gate. I was frozen; I shivered; I was abandoned to my fate. Brother, do you remember me I am the one before your life I'm the one without a name.