Candles of Sorrow

[philrose]

Candles of sorrow

Into the twilight hours Catherina sits by her piano
Slender fingers caressing ebony and ivory
Through the silence cuts her haunted tune
She dare not think of tomorrow
Under the light of the visiting moon
Catherina cries to the candles of sorrow that throw silhouettes around the room

Her fingers dance the feelings of her soul
Her naked eyes lonesome as a violin of solitude
Her heart echoes the chorus of a whispering choir
Catherina’s sadness burned like fire

Abandoned before the night was over
By her heartless lover
Left for the lust of another
Her eyes she tried to cover
From the burning shadows of sadness

She dare not think of tomorrow
Catherina cries to candles of sorrow that throw silhouettes around the room

Into the smoky logs of flame Catherina casts her thoughts into the eyes of her beloved Captain
Memories flashed through her trembling frame
A hero from the fields of war, a proud uniform the Captain wore
Sweet was the kiss of reunion on the station platform
A wooden crutch beneath his shoulder
The Captains arrival heralded a crowd of frenzy
Into the bosom of Catherina he stumbled
The embrace of passion engaged the air
Catherina probed delicate searching fingers through the Captains hair

From the carriage of decorated horses
Morganella spied with eyes of envy
Her breasts heaved a tortured sigh
Her limbs ached with lust
Deep within her heart she could not lie
She was tired of being a shadow in the Captains eyes

She dare not think of tomorrow
Catherina cries to the candles of tomorrow that throw silhouettes around the room
Before the light of the early morning skies
The gourmet banquet was prepared
The invitation to the wedding was the topic of restless tongues
Catherina's beauty consumed by Morganella’s beast

5 long years in the trenches held captive the Captains thoughts

To a hero’s applause he stood to orate his speech

“I’m weary of the war; I don’t want to fight no more
I took a bullet for the honor of my country
I spilt the blood of my enemy, for the ragged glory of the flag
I’ve heard the begs of mercy, crying out from behind another man’s eyes
I’ve heard the screams of young men about to die
I’ve felt the swords of hate, flashing through the blood red skies
I’ve seen lead tear through flesh and bone
And I’ve read the words on scented paper to the husbands who know
They’re not going home
From a distance I’ve heard the moans of widowed women left alone
The blood of comrades and enemies stains my shoulder

I wore the uniform, I took command

Although I wear a uniform, held together by bloodied thread, I’m just a man

I remember pretty, silken women, waving handkerchiefs in sad farewell
Listlessly sleeping in lonely beds waiting for the tear stained reunion
I knew they were the widows of tomorrow

And I’ve dug the graves of brave, good men that generals failed to save
Fallen in sacrifice, heroes in a nations eyes
I looked into the mourning eyes of mothers

I want the doves of peace to fly in peaceful skies
And the flags of surrender to unfold
And command the fighting to cease

I’m just a mortal man”





“Friends and comrades raise your glasses, taste the wine
Let us not forget, those who are no longer with us
Pray for the heroes and for the dead who gave their lives in sacrifice
To save the children of you and me”

“Drink to me. Drink to my wife”

The flowing red hot blood of a lovers touch
Turned bitter memories sweeter
The Captains eyes transfixed
By the seductive dances of Morganella

Dancing, erotically, cheek to cheek, the Captain and Morganella

“Hold me tight; give your arms to me
Take me close to the milk of your breasts
Take care of my wounded heart
Never more will the fields of war
Tear us apart”

"I’m just a man
Cursed with the love of 2 women
One looking for the wealth and fame of a hero
One looking for the love of a heart

One a woman of blonde and stone
One a woman of crimson red, marble and silk

Open your arms I’m here to stay
Sweet Morganella
Dance with me on the eve of our wedding day"

Into the twilight hours
Catherina sits by her piano
Lender fingers caressing ebony and ivory
Through the silence cuts her haunting tune

She dare not think of tomorrow
Under the light of the visiting moon
Catherina cries to candles of sorrow that throw silhouettes around the room

[lizzytysh]

Hi Phil ~

I'm very touched by the war story and human drama of this.

From your earlier descriptions of Catherina, I wouldn't have thought her to be "One looking for the wealth and fame of a hero."

This reminds me of the old-time ballads. It could easily be put to song... a few changes here and there, though I wouldn't be the one to tell you what those changes would be .

I liked the haunting picture you painted of Catherina and your refrain of "Catherina cries to the candles of sorrow that throw silhouettes around the room." It's interesting how you showed both sides of your story and created a shift in sympathies... from Catherina to the Captain and Morganella.

I enjoyed the melancholy that reading this brought me.

Thanks for posting it, Phil.


~ Lizzy

[philrose]

Lizzy
The descriptions could be either woman. That is what the intention was. I do feel also that Catherina and Morganella could be the same woman. In my description I didn't say who was who. I left that for you to decide.
I like the layers in this poem, the most powerful image being Catherina and her feeling of betrayal.

[philrose]

Her fingers dance the feeling of her soul......
Was she playing a minor chord, was she melancholy?

[lizzytysh]

Ah, okay... maybe I would have gotten that with more readings. I had to go with my first and it didn't come to me in that way. When I have more time, I'll revisit it from that perspective. It sure seemed melancholy to me, with minor chords... or just simple, singular notes, the way she seemed to be feeling. I pictured her going downstairs to the piano after he had left. Very evocative piece in any case.

~ Lizzy