White Star Line
The sun rises from the black depths of the ocean and alights on the fragile rim of my wine cup. It is white wine from Italy alive with the tang of midnight and the sweetness of rosemary.
Saltwater bursts and mists across my horizon face as I imagine the olive-green hills of Tuscany roiling with buried gold and fading laughter. I smell the woodsmoke. I smell the fish caramelizing over with garlic and lemon. I smell the cigars. I smell the ice poured over with whiskey and black cherry.
The ballroom bell reverberates off the low-hanging sky. The piano sends out its hollow invitation to dance. I know the fragility of this ship. I know its destiny. I feel it in the oak and hear it in the ocean. The ocean calls louder than the piano.
The ship is following the white star line. My feet are following the white star line. The wine in my cup turned sweet under the white star line. We are all following the white star line.
In Tuscany, the white star line streaks bold overhead and dips down into the vineyard. On the Atlantic, the white star line dips down into the ocean and we will all follow our destinies to meet it on the coral seabed where at last the wine cup will stand empty.
Photo by Triangle Eight
rothpoetry
The photo is fabulous!
rothpoetry
I like this a lot! This paragraph is a very haunting nod to the last day of the Titanic:
“The ballroom bell reverberates off the low-hanging sky. The piano sends out its hollow invitation to dance. I know the fragility of this ship. I know its destiny. I feel it in the oak and hear it in the ocean. The ocean calls louder than the piano.”
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
Tuscany! Oh how much I would welcome you in Tuscany with a bunch of sunflowers!
Bridgette
An incredible poem of beauty! Thank you for this.
Belladonna
Layla this was excellent 😍😍😍😍
Aspen Hite
Such a beautiful piece! The rhythm, repetition and imagery are magnificent!💜
Jeff Flesch
I adore how you’ve crafted this poem; a narrative of a ship, non ship, experiencing existence, and non existence, this ballad is the song of life, of love, and of the cosmos. I love this write, Layla! ❤️
Layla Todd
Thank you, Jeff, for sharing the thoughts this poem evoked in you!
According to Chren
Another amazing poem, Layla. And you chose the perfect image to go along with it.
Michele Lee
Oh my! I feel transported, not only by your rich imagery, Layla, but by the character’s thoughts. Gorgeous! Looks like glitchy WP unkindly had me unfollow you. Hope that never happens again!
Layla Todd
I am delighted you enjoyed this piece, Michele! As for WordPress . . . 😒
Michele Lee
Thank you. 😊 I had been thinking it seemed too long without a post from you… I was missing you! Happy to refollow and keep reading. 🤗
theusedlife
I love how vivd and sensual your writing is. Gorgeous imagery. Well done!
d.a.simpsonwriter
Superbly evoked 🖤💖✍
Ingrid
The twist at the end of this piece reads like a wake-up call, Layla!
The Sicilian Storyteller
A magic carpet ride transporting us to places we only dream of. Lovely, Layla! 💫
Ari
Wow that was haunting! I love it
Layla Todd
Thank you for reading, Ari!
Karan Moolpani
My my..These are truly one of the most beautiful lines I have ever read🤩💯😘❤️
Layla Todd
Thank you so much! 🌟
Lia
Reading this is like going on a much-needed and intoxicatingly evoked mini-holiday! Love!
Layla Todd
Thank you ever so much, Lia!
D. Wallace Peach
Oooh. So haunting, Layla. There’s such a strong sense of inevitability in this reinforced by the repetition. The last lines say it all. Beautiful.
Layla Todd
Thank you much, Diana!
Cassa Bassa
You are such a wordsmith Layla, you paint scenes and scenery with precise and emotive language. Reading your poetry is like walking into wonder and experiencing it.
Layla Todd
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Cassa!
Cassa Bassa
You are welcome!
Jacqui Murray
OK, to be honest, my first thought was “Drinking in the morning?” And then I got lost in the gorgeous prose, didn’t care about clocks and rules anymore.
Layla Todd
Thank you for sharing how you were transported by this piece, Jacqui!
Grace
Layla, this is absolutely stunning!!! You are truly one of my favorite writers…your always vivid and descriptive imagery is such a treat to read. I love all the subtle but special details here, you took the reader on a wonderful journey 🤍🤗
Layla Todd
Thank you for this amazing comment that lights up my day, Grace!
Baydreamer - Lauren Scott
Layla, this prose is beautiful, appealing to all senses so vividly and keenly. I also love the repetition, and a wine lover myself, I enjoyed the “tang of midnight and sweetness of rosemary.” ❤️
Layla Todd
Thank you so much, Lauren, for this delightful comment! ❤️