Sleeping Beauty

I lay asleep on the lip of a fountain,

Enveloped in the cadence of the night.

Ambushed. In slumbering, contrite

A dream of fingers closed around my ankle —

The sound of his approach veiled by the rustle of the trees.

“Dance with me.” The proclamation of a fall.

Not a request and yet… not quite an order. Tease.

Transfixed, I am unable to resist the call.

Impetuous hand imprisons. Thoughts tangled. Can’t delay

Make my escape… from his hold run away?

The shadow of a kiss, eyes searching for an answer,

Betrayed in my reluctance by a sigh

And in tenacious rave am twined into his lie.

Relentless. Punishing. By fire sealed — mistake.

To pained regrets and daylight I awake.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/prompt-skin/

22 thoughts on “Sleeping Beauty”

Sleep is such a beautiful commodity of life. I’m glad you appreciate it and see the inner beauty of what slumber can give you.

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vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:12 pm said:

Thank you, kbeezyisviral. This is a theme that recurs in my poetry and in my prose too. I am a vivid dreamer – it is to me another world that feels as real as wakefulness.

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- kbeezyisviral on December 18, 2013 at 8:03 pm said:
  
  Sleep is the cousin of death. It can really teach you a lot. I’m glad to hear you are vivid dreamer. I too dream vividly on a consistent basis.

Love the opening to this which sets up the rest. Great job.

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vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:14 pm said:

Thank you, Richard. I am very glad you liked it. Will impart a secret with you: this poem was inspired by a scene in my novel. 🙂

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- richardankerswrites on December 18, 2013 at 2:17 pm said:
  
  That’s freaky you saying that. Right at this moment, I am about two paragraphs from the end of my own second draft. Are you watching me?
- vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:29 pm said:
  
  Doing my best to stay undercover 😉
- richardankerswrites on December 18, 2013 at 2:30 pm said:
  
  I did just lift my cushions up, but you weren’t there.
- vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:31 pm said:
  
  Always hide under the bed 😉
- richardankerswrites on December 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm said:
  
  In that case, I apologise for the clutter, just move it to one side.
- vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm said:
  
  I hope your second drafting went well. Fingers crossed it will be ready for submission.
- richardankerswrites on December 18, 2013 at 2:33 pm said:
  
  Yes, thank you. I’ve set myself until the end of January to perfect it.
  How far on are you with yours?
- vicbriggs on December 19, 2013 at 3:56 pm said:
  
  thirty-seven consecutive chapters revised so far. A few more to go. Whether I will be able to do any of it while in the states, I’m not sure 🙂
- richardankerswrites on December 19, 2013 at 4:02 pm said:
  
  That’s good going. Can you put any of it onto your phone to do?

A beautifully structured poem, Vic. Your opening line is gorgeous and sets the tone nicely. This made me think a little of the myth of Persephone – a little bit of Greek can’t be bad. Lovely!

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vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:21 pm said:

Thank you, Chris. I spent five weeks in Athens this autumn and had a chance to reacquaint myself with those myths which I have loved ever since I was a child. Classic themes have stayed with us for a reason. It was an unconscious choice, but I am glad you discovered the connection.

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Beautiful!!!

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vicbriggs on December 18, 2013 at 2:21 pm said:

Thank you, Carrie. So pleased you liked it. 🙂

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I know it’s labeled “Sleeping Beauty” but the first few lines gave me a flash of Merry and Pippin from Lord of the Rings being ensnared by that tree. 🙂

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