Featured art by Maren Klemp
Listen to Ultima by Richard Charles Stevens (Reflection Suite)
Listen to Reflections by Phaeleh
She is glass
To see right through
In all alluring forms I view
A flawless masterpiece
Esteemed the leading light of modest few
(I see her true)
In crystalline
Her eyes bid deep delight
To days preceding night
To steep the rise of mist amidst the fall of morning dew
She is glass
To see right through
In all alluring forms I view
I see her true
.
Such lawless flight
Invites an audience to testify skyline anew
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Rhododendrons end their bitter feuds
With mead renewed
Bid seeds adieu
Extend their tips in thriving bloom
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Climbing the horizon
Timing runs to guide the sun and prize the moon
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
The song of siren breaks the silence
In defiance of displacing gloom
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Her crystal gaze permits embrace through distant haze of wistful faces mute
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Resolute in making plain the diamonds in her eyes in vibrant boom
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
She is glass
To see right through
In all the flawless forms I view
I see her true
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
I see her true
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
A dream is not a dream
Less She be fevered in salute
Setting scene serenely
Keenly reasoning commute
A dream is not a dream
Less seen through eyes of blind faith runed
A dream is not a dream
Less dreamed for two
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
For She I fall asleep
At peace no mind supplied to ill at ease concede that I will bleed
Denied the guiding light She oversees
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
Inebriating sober seas
The moment She proceeds
With the diplomacy of waves in open sweep
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
My soul to keep
I give to solely She
Of glass
To see right through
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Adored in all adoring forms I view
.
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
Adorned with jewels
Her vesture strewn with every treasured gemstone and bijou
.
For She is glass
To see right through
She is glass
To see right through
In crystalline
And disinclined to mists that rise amidst the morning dew
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
Her dawning eyes comprise a rousing symphony
Arousing bloom
To bind the sun in twine with our sweet moon
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Esteemed the honest flight of few
Both light and shade delight the view
The flawless form of Ultima
My final breath penultimate
For only She can kiss me back to life upon consulting her
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Would gladly die exalting her to high of modest few
For She I shall be glass
To see right through
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
Through single brace of eyes
Embrace all flawless forms we view
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
And see them true
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
(Bloom)
.
For She I shall be glass
To see right through
Through single brace of eyes
Embrace all flawless forms we view
And see them true
.
See them true
.
See them true
.
See them true
.
Richard Charles Stevens
Keeper of The Crimson Quill
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© Copyright: Rivers of Grue™ Phaeleh™
A dream is not a dream
Less dreamed for two
Perfection
I adore that you cherry picked this line. Often I become so lost in a melody when writing, that lines become serpentine tongue twisters before I can draw a breath.
Then there are the moments I liken to breathing out. I wrote the above prose while exhaling a breath. Simplicity speaks so much more sweetly in these instances.
You, like She, are “a flawless masterpiece”. I may not be a wordsmith but I embrace all your prose with my life giving circulatory system 🙂
I see you true.
“The flawless form of Ultima
My final breath penultimate
For only She can kiss me back to life upon consulting her”
Tears and strength come from these words. I love them beyond comprehension. Ultima is one of my favorite poems of all time. It lives in a special place among other favorite poems written by a talented gentleman I know and some other poets named Frost and Poe.
Tears of joy on receipt of those words. Firstly Ivy, you see the true underlying message of Ultima. In the world of here and now it will be read by many as a love ode from one to another. Yet, its romance so much more than that. To and from the one place inside us all from where our strength, love and light resides.
Secondly, to be spoken of in the same passage as the likes of Frost and Poe, such is an honour unlike any other. It has always been my goal to fuse the archaic with the modern, thus keeping alive such tremendous legacies and refreshing the flowers, so to speak. I am humbled deeply by your words.
You succeed in reaching your goal. Absolutely beautiful work, Richard. We are blessed to have the opportunity to read your words. Much love to you.
Much love to you, Ivy. You lend each word weight simply by believing in it. And me. As I do you.
The way you stagger the songs with “bloom” is really clever and bang on beat.
The lyrics are beautiful, exquisite Lion 🩷