10 POEMS by Duchan Caudill (book recommendations for teens TXT) 📕

Autumn Memory

Of golden autumn I have this to say -

I treasure the memory of a particular day:

when leaves aflame with sun swiftly alighted,
     windy salutes nature's change not blighted.
     But what most illumines that reverie -
     it was you who was then with me.

 

To Sylvia Plath

A marauder with words that often chill,

ambiguous imagery in the core of your will.
     Your wounded life amidst some rapture,
     lasting peace your soul could not capture.
     Agony at the zenith of your everyday,
     I wish you had wished to want to stay.

 

 

To Marie de France

 

 

I found your words in a book of lore,
     thus reading, I craved to savor more
     of the spirit of your insightful mind,
     which I discovered to be good and kind,
     as that of any woman in my day should be,
     you, Marie, would not have disappointed me.

Story of your Life

 

 

Relate to me the story of your life, indeed, at once begin,
     as through the cadence of your narrative insight I shall win,
     of why you are who you are, of what you strongly do believe,
     whether living to you is a memorable feast or a time to grieve.
     May in your words honesty reflect itself as your foremost desire,
     do so, and my interest in you shall most likely never expire.

In Anticipation of Improvement

 Light of Life, Measure of Perfection - I summon Thee,
     share with me some insight, I longingly desire this!
     What lay beyond boundaries of earthly understanding -
     a sphere where ignorance is collectively extinct,
     the lucid realm of unmanipulated consciousness,
     where truths are absolute, minds pure and beautiful?
     Tolerable to remain in the world which I now inhabit,
     as anticipation of eternal bliss lures me consolingly...

An Almost Forgotten Love

 You're so far away from me, at home on a foreign shore,
      without you I no longer care to climb, to poetically soar.
      The gift of rhyme within me will all too soon have vanished,
      my constant thoughts of you - impossible to keep banished
      from memories of wondrous passion, of Cupid's ardent bliss,
      the glory, splendor, the sublime sweetness of your kiss.
      If now I could see you looking across the threshing sea,
     you would hear me repeat in whispers, "Remember me"...

Lucidity Within

 The inner life, realm of light and shadows,
      where unambiguity and paradox often
      merge to form an order of confusion
     that humankind yearns to alter into
     comforting, domesticated certainties,
     which are but partially aglow with truth.
     Tell me, friend, is within each of us
     rooted the source of absolute
     enlightenment, destined to be found
     by those who diligently seek?
     He responds: "We are like shards of
     shattered mirrors, each of us
     reflecting but a sparkle of the
     lucid Whole..."

To Principessa S.

And thinking of you so many times,
     the bell of admiration in me chimes:
     rarely is inner beauty found today,
     bless you, it is within you to stay.
     Your purity of soul and tender heart -
     you are a work of God's exquisite art.
     And since you are a gift of sovereign grace,
     you in my thoughts will  have a place...

To Sybilla

Baldwin IV of Jerusalem writes a letter to his sister Sybilla in A.D. 1175

 

Dearest Sister
     To send you these words in harmony,
     does more than merely pleasure me.
     For every word that flows from my quill,
     contains my promise to honor your will:
     If ever you need a strong and helping hand,
     you may summon me when in demand.
     Should you crave sound and clear advice,
     you shall surely not have to ask me twice.
     Fear you never mankind, beast or Adversary* -
     my brotherly love for you within my heart I carry...

 

*Adversary (capitalized) = the Devil

To Lord Byron

Your rampant ego, the coldness of your heart
     of selfishness, poet, you made a form of art.
     Posterity does hold your writings in esteem,
     yet we recall that you could be rash and mean.
     So, what pity to have such talent and great fame,
     but to lack in conduct any sense of shame.