Passionate

navskys
Feb 4
4 min read

“There is an evening twilight of the heart, when its wild passion-waves are lulled to rest”

The opening lines of Halleck’s poem evoke an intense longing ended. A mature, passionate love, including the up’s and downs of a life lived. Passion of the heart. His description of a ‘dancing heart’ is easily understood by others who have experienced love. This passionate love, will it extinguish at some point?

Twilight

There is an evening twilight of the heart,

When its wild passion-waves are lulled to rest,

And the eye sees life’s fairy scenes depart,

As fades the day-beam in the rosy west.

’Tis with a nameless feeling of regret

We gaze upon them as they melt away,

And fondly would we bid them linger yet,

But Hope is round us with her angel lay,

Hailing afar some happier moonlight hour;

Dear are her whispers still, though lost their early power.

In youth the cheek was crimsoned with her glow;

Her smile was loveliest then; her matin song

Was heaven’s own music, and the note of woe

Was all unheard her sunny bowers among.

Life’s little word of bliss was newly born;

We knew not, cared not, it was born to die,

Flushed with the cool breeze and the dews of morn,

With dancing heart we gazed on the pure sky,

And mocked the passing clouds that dimmed its blue,

Like our own sorrows then—as fleeting and as few.

And manhood felt her sway too—on the eye,

Half realized, her early dreams burst bright,

Her promised bower of happiness seemed nigh,

Its days of joy, its vigils of delight;

And though at times might lower the thunder-storm,

And the red lightnings threaten, still the air

Was balmy with her breath, and her loved form,

The rainbow of the heart was hovering there.

'Tis in life’s noontide she is nearest seen,

Her wreath the summer flower, her robe of summer green.

But though less dazzling in her twilight dress,

There’s more of heaven’s pure beam about her now;

That angel-smile of tranquil loveliness,

Which the heart worships, glowing on her brow;

That smile shall brighten the dim evening star

That points our destined tomb, nor e’er depart

Till the faint light of life is fled afar,

And hushed the last deep beating of the heart;

The meteor-bearer of our parting breath,

A moonbeam in the midnight cloud of death.

Fitz-Greene Halleck

Is the answer true and forever?

Will passionate love continue forever? K. Gibran’s poem talks of ‘Togetherness’. He writes, “Together you shall be forevermore.” Many people have found their heart’s desire extinguished on Valentine’s day. They wait nearby patiently while the laced red heart and box of chocolates passes in front of them to their classmate or co-worker. Yes, it is a thrill to give a Valentine to someone even if the love is not mutual.

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

K. Gibran, On Marriage

On Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of your be alone,

Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet (Knopf, 1923).

pas·sion·ate

/ˈpaSH(ə)nət/

The Oxford dictionary definition for passion is “showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief. You might have guessed. Passion is the theme of this year’s Valentine’s Blog. Past year’s themes have included Romantic Evenings with poetry from Neruda and Tragic Love with excerpts from Romeo & Juliet. Each blog has contained original poetry by Navsky - certainly.

Passion, Passionate, Passionately.

Purple

Passion

Fiery tempest

A thirst unquenched

Attraction, deep rich

Love on fire, perhaps

Micro Poem

A ribbon connecting two.

Side to side

Pulled

Together