Re: The Maureen trilogy: Afterglow

George J. Dance wrote:

>

"Afterglow" is the third poem in what I call my "Maureen

trilogy" - you can read more about that trilogy on the thread devoted to
its first poemm "Spring Again." Likw "Spring Again",
"Afterglow" is a sonnet, but accidentally so, merely because I was
learning to write sonnets at the time, and I wanted to write one for my
wife
for our anniversaryl I wanted to write not just a sonnet but a love
poem, as a
gift that would make up a little for the fact that, as too often in our
relationship, I was ignoring our relationship to  go off by myself and
write
instead.

>
So there's no complex theme here, just a simple poem to tell Maureen
that I

love her (while acknowledging that I don't do that enough. There are a
couple
of good lines, and a couple of Eliot-style allusions to works by other
poets
(Charles III and Eliot himself). But I'll let the readers look for
those, if
they choose; for now, I'll just give the definitive text:

>
Afterglow
>
My darling, on this night of Valentine's,
Excuse me while I find a way to say
I love you, knowing I could never pay
For thirty years with only fourteen lines.
But let me try to say just what I mean:
That in the depths of February's chill,
As long as I can have you with me still,
It never will be dark or cold, Maureen;
For, holding you and looking at the snow,
I see a light from thirty years ago
Still blazing, gleaming, dazzling all below!
And looking in your eyes, Maureen, I know
A passion from as many years ago,
Which warms my body with its afterglow.
>
~~
George J. Dance, 2007

>
>
Bravo!

This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=661089381#661089381