By Your Blue Flame

I pray beside your satin cheek
my lips an inch or so from yours
I’ve said this prayer for centuries
for a time I can’t fathom anymore.

I live for the curve of your back
and the way your curves continue
Like the sea beyond your straight horizon
the dance inside your sinew.

I’m perched on the sill of your soul
like a crow who waits for the rain
As your skin replays every ballad
that once perspired my name.

I paint the hair behind your ear
subtle changes, crimson tune.
All the creatures of time concur
all the rivers suspended in blue.

Side-by-side the heavens glow
beyond refrain, and never tire.
Lovers are wrapped in their patterns
dragons condemned to their fire.

I pray beside your blue flame
at the edge of your mystic fount
A thousand lives soaring skyward
from the valley, inwards and out.

In peasant times we’d share a bed
and darker times we’d bridge with sight.
Each time we meet’s more magical;
this cool refinement of delight.

Copyright. 2009.

  • sandraellen

    sandraellen

    Jim…just beautiful, a soul serenade that i too hear.
    Heartfelt, glorious, a lovely share…
    “To place your hair behind your ear,
    and to hear the subtle changes as I do”
    There are so many wonderful lines…love
    sandra

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Sandra, means a lot.

  • DeviousLili

    DeviousLili

    Whew. I think part of me fell in love with Love just then …

    (please, please, Please join the Insomniacs group and post your works. All of them. Sincerely!)

  • jim marshal replied

    consider it done. Thanks Steph!

  • Lisa  Jewell

    Lisa Jewell

    Love so defined has to be real…. at least for a time.

    Beautiful.

  • jim marshal replied

    Yes its real alright, we just get in the way of it sometimes. Thanks Lisa xx

  • Carol Berliner

    Carol Berliner

    bravo beautiful work!

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Carol.

  • Rhenastarr

    Rhenastarr

    A sensual beautiful love story told in gloriously lyrical words, that ebb and flow through the
    mind like a gentle ocean. So many wonderful lines. Perfection from the mind through the pen to the paper. A definite fav!

  • jim marshal replied

    Great, sounds like a killer review! Thank you sincerely.

  • mimi yoon

    mimi yoon

    speechless…. it kindles me…

  • jim marshal replied

    that’s what we want ;)

  • Del Millar

    Del Millar

    ...side-by-sidedness, heaven’s gift
    a warmth that doesn’t strain or tire
    like butterflies wrapped inside their pattern
    like dragons in love with their Fire…

    the entire piece right from the beginning,
    a beautiful warm sincere love story, and one that
    can be so in reality between soul mates; a warmth that doesn’t strain or tire..
    lovely writing x

  • jim marshal replied

    Yes, it can be in reality. Thanks Del it means a lot to me.

  • linaji

    linaji

    I am with Del.. I was just going to copy this down and she had it… but really friend.. your work is satisfying.

  • jim marshal replied

    I just love that you are on my wavelength. Eternal thanks. x

  • girlinthestars

    girlinthestars

    soooo beautiful and soft.

  • jim marshal replied

    pleased it touched you, thanks for the read. x

  • oneperfectkiss

    oneperfectkiss

    “I’ve been kissing those lips for centuries…” feels so beautiful and familiar. This is a superb work of art within the precious art of love words and feelings. xxxx

  • jim marshal replied

    Ah thanks love. xx

  • ArcadiaTempest

    ArcadiaTempest

    Each line builds the following in this piece. A complimentary muse of romantic verse that is stunning in it’s execution. Amazing …you are going somewhere me thinks..:))

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks again, you give such rave reviews, I am honoured. x

  • Kristin  Reynolds

    Kristin Reynolds

    Man, i know it. for centuries. This is a cosmic, undeniable beauty. Kristin

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks once again Kristin, your pony tails always bring a smile to me…. :))

  • Erika .

    Erika .

    So spiritual and magical once again.
    I’m perched on the sill of your soul
    like a crow who waits for the rain.....this is just pure beauty, Jim.

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Erika, I appreciate you!
    hugs

  • Colleen Milburn

    Colleen Milburn

    b e a u t i f u l :))

  • jim marshal replied

    Thank you kindly Colleen.

  • Blanchot

    Blanchot

    My god, Jim; how do you always find the perfect words? This is one of the most moving pieces of wrting that I have ever come across. I will second Kristin. Where does one start to lift parts of this sublime to serve as representative of the entire? And, I mean sublime in the Kantian sense of that which leaves one with unspeakable awe, if you will forgive the irony.

    By the way, not sure if you have run across Wallace’s Sunday Morn as of yet. I am almost sure that you can find it on www.poetryfoundation.org.; a great site to take a sip of the greats.

  • jim marshal

    jim marshal

    Thank you sir, this is moving to hear you found it so beautiful. Means a lot to me. and I will check out Sunday Morn in due course, thanks for that.

    many creative blessings -
    Jim.

  • Ming  Myaskovsky

    Ming Myaskovsky

    Oh MY!! This is full of imagery and metaphors that take my breath away! Just a fabulous write. Wonderfully done! :)

  • Cassey

    Cassey

    Absolutely wonderful!

  • wasy35

    wasy35

    very romantic, i like it a lot.

  • lupa

    lupa

    oh this is…I am….it’s so…”sigh” all of the above! :)

  • jim marshal replied

    ah you like? good to hear from you lupa!

  • happyfeet5

    happyfeet5

    Wow. You really know how to love a woman to death and then bring her to life again with your beautiful, luscious words.

  • jim marshal replied

    Man! That’s one of the best comments ever! {happyfeet your way over to my pages anytime ;}

  • happyfeet5

    happyfeet5

    I am so flattered. I sure will put you in my watchlist. Because if all of your words are like these, then if they are death, then a thousand deaths I will accept.

  • Mari1980

    Mari1980

    You words seemed to come to life as I read this piece… I could feel the words…. especially the part where her hair is being tucked behind the her ear…..

    I guess we all try and relate to poems… and see ourselves in them…. this is a wonderful poem.

    —mari

  • jim marshal replied

    Thank you Mari… (from another 1980 child)

  • Laurie Search

    Laurie Search

    Ohhhh…pure romance….gorgeous…

  • jim marshal replied

    yeah, i must confess this is one of my favorites ;)

  • Laurie Search

    Laurie Search

    Well, I can see why….It’s now one of my favorites, too! :)

  • jim marshal replied

    Easy to win over another romantic lol

  • Cathie Brooker

    Cathie Brooker

    When I was young romance was everywhere but now I’m near 50 that magical chemistry between people seems rare. Are you living these words or are they nostalgic?

  • jim marshal replied

    That its rare makes it worthwhile.

  • Emmahleee

    Emmahleee

    amazing words!

  • jim marshal replied

    Cheers Emmahlee.

  • melissarwilson

    melissarwilson

    So very tender and romantic. Beautiful.

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Melissa.

  • Larasolnishko

    Larasolnishko

    light, sentimental, sensual piece…well done!

  • jim marshal replied

    Cheers Lara!

  • liliana

    liliana

    Sensual, tender, romantic…..
    “I’d wrap you in my blanket, love, you’d
    feel the angels never left your port.
    I’d walk with you forever, love, our simple
    yoke; our love be the rose that won’t hurt.”
    A piece that caresses and sings to the soul…perfect…

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks so much, liliana. I must confess though I have just gone and changed some of the verses! Oh well hope you still think its a thing of beauty.

  • liliana

    liliana

    I most definitely still think it is a thing of beauty Jim…..

  • jim marshal replied

    Phew… thanks again!

  • hsien-ku

    hsien-ku

    such a stunning love poem! a person can live their whole life and never be told something as beautiful as this!

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks… a comment from the heart. x

  • Emmahleee

    Emmahleee

    This is unbelievably beautiful

  • jim marshal replied

    Cheers, very kind of you.

  • Charma Chircop

    Charma Chircop

    so warm amd beautiful—Charma

  • jim marshal replied

    Thankyou Charma.

  • Cassidy JK (Ra Or Emraeh)

    Cassidy JK (Ra...

    I still love this one!

  • jim marshal replied

    Pleased to hear, thanks Cass.

  • Lisa  Jewell

    Lisa Jewell

    I too still love this poem
    so very romantic
    and eye opening x

  • jim marshal replied

    :)

  • ShadowDancer

    ShadowDancer

    i get such wobbly knees for poetry of the romantic kind…
    this is marvelous – I paint the hair behind your ear
    subtle changes, crimson tune.
    so glad you used Lisas-never-fail-poem-revival-method.

  • jim marshal replied

    lol, wobbly is good. Thanks for your support.

  • Del Millar

    Del Millar

    As lovely a read second time round.

  • jim marshal replied

    Thankyou Del, glad you think so.

  • JenniferB

    JenniferB

    flows like a sweet melody, simply beautiful. :)

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Jen pleased you enjoyed it :)

  • Kristin  Reynolds

    Kristin Reynolds

    This is one of my favorites of yours, Jim. :) if I could favorite again and again, I would.
    And, I must say so sorry, to your above reply to my comment…as my current pic is void of pig tails..but, right now? I’m in my slothes, and divine morning pigtails. lol
    thought you’d like to know. lol

  • jim marshal replied

    Morning braids… I shall settle for that.

  • Tanya Keefe

    Tanya Keefe

    Ah, you have me warmly reminiscing about the way I worship at the altar of my own Love…beautiful writing.

    How beautiful to see Divinity laid bare in another.

    I find your cosmic references intriguing and delightful. The shades of blue speak volumes.

  • jim marshal replied

    That is such a perfect thing to say to someone like me :)

    Thanks Tanya, much appreciated.

  • madvlad

    madvlad

    a true romantic in words and mental sights

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Vlad.

  • RikkiWoods

    RikkiWoods

    Truly beautifully painted images of romance and sensuality.

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks Rikki, your comments mean a lot.

  • Shoaib .

    Shoaib .

    “I pray beside your blue flame
    at the edge of your mystic fount
    A thousand lives soaring skyward
    from the valley, inwards and out.”

    awesome work man.. i love the ebb and flow of this piece… gotta catch up with ur work again mate, my apologies… you always write so well i see that hasnt changed

    peace

  • jim marshal replied

    Cheers mate so good to se you around the traps again :)

  • happyfeet5

    happyfeet5

    This takes you through the beginning of time as a beautiful love song continues to sing to a lover and takes you to the present.

  • jim marshal replied

    What a lovely way of putting it, thanks again Iris :)

  • cosimopiro

    cosimopiro 7 days ago

    Such a beautiful piece of writing….how did I miss this!!!

  • happyfeet5

    happyfeet5 7 days ago

    This is just beautiful. I just love it. As always you have mastered the art of words. Iris

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