Smooth Talker: Ghazal for dVerse Poets

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Smooth Talker

Whatever tales you chose to tell, after dark,
perhaps filled out your empty shell, after dark.

Those blusterings that in the day came to naught,
may all have served you very well, after dark.

But all those love lessons that your voice once taught
no longer ring out like a bell after dark

As in the web of years you’re firmly caught,
you may as well your passions quell after dark.

Since my affection’s not so easily bought,
your words instead become a knell after dark.

 

 

I apologize to this young man for always using his photo when I need an illustration of a very handsome man. In no way is he the real subject of the poem.  The ghazal is a very complicated form that involves repetition of words as well as internal rhyme.  I’ve added the end rhyme just for my own satisfaction. For an explanation of the form, see: dVerse Poets

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

13 thoughts on “Smooth Talker: Ghazal for dVerse Poets”

  3. Gay Reiser Cannon's avatarGay Reiser Cannon

    Yous is the first of these I’ve read that speaks to “Love’s Labor Lost” in human romantic terms, and it captures it well with humor and aplomb. It’s the second in a row that I’ve read that eschews the facet use of the couplet and creates a complete story through the use of the two lines. I like how both usages and even more ways to use the poem have been written for this exercise. I see there is still a wealth of talent posting here and I’m gratified to be able to read your poem and all the others.

    I think this quite skillful. It captures both the feeling of betrayal, and the realization that one often fools oneself when one falls “head over heels”, only to realize the truth as the relationship moves on. Excellent work!

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Gay, for your generous words and close reading of my poem. It is a tricky form to deal with and I used the oldest pattern that I could find, adding the additional rhymes of the first lines of the last four stanzas. I like the puzzle of these formula poems. Your close reading is my reward!

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