O lonely shepherd with flute,
Do you remember me?
O sweet forest fairy,
Have I damaged you this much?
As you whistle sweet but sad tunes,
You cry bitterly and it shatters me.
I count the stars and give each one a name,
But no one makes me feel what I felt for you.
O lonely shepherd with flute,
I long for your warmth and tenderness.
Can you cover me with a coat of wool?
O heart that mine used to call home,
Do you still have an extra space for me?
I have been away for too long;
Wandering and wondering in the jungle,
And I am a fool to think that I still own the place.
Your place was my comfort zone;
Where I used to hide my face and bury my tears.
You were a blank page,
On which I used to write my pain.
I was a picture and you framed me,
But I left you enclosed in the cage.
Things were cruel and I was a coward,
I had no way to keep you safe, or dry your tears.
I'm a jerk who left you teared apart,
I left when you needed me the most.
Will you forget and forgive at once?
Will you accept me again,
Although you know that I am lying?
I tremble when lions roar,
I get afraid when wolves howl.
I shiver when it rains,
And my skin burns on a sunny day.
I thought I was able to live on my own,
But I'm nothing without you.
Will you take me in,
Although you know I'll run away again?
-
Author:
Pacifique Niyitanga (
Offline) - Published: November 7th, 2021 14:11
- Comment from author about the poem: Wrote this in collaboration with Lise Nova.
- Category: Love
- Views: 19
- Users favorite of this poem: jarcher54, L. B. Mek.
Offline)
Comments3
Parts of this, like the beginning and the end, are a fresh take on the folk song or ancient pastoral poetry. Superficially sweet and idealized, full of references to pre-human nature, and reflecting deep feelings of love, joy, or sorrow. Parts of it are modern and almost too conversational, like calling oneself a jerk, or referring to owning the place or your comfort zone. This was fun to read, pretty but painful. Thanks for putting it together for us!
good reader, i loved the way you read it through. thanks for constructive comment.
Being from Africa, you have a nice feel for the songs and tales of the villages and markets, the oral tradition sneaking into modern literary currents. The European or American would refer to bears and forests, not jungles and lions. I appreciated the nuance of your own experiences mixed into the rich literary traditions we all know.
simply, Brilliant!
what a wonderful fusion, of empathetic Poetic voices;
such an effortlessly, relatable Poem
thank you! for choosing to share
thank you too Mek
This carried me away to magical places.....
Well. i appreciate your feeling
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