Steep is the color
of my true love’s eyes,
cave cliffs
where swallows dive
Like falling love
at breakneck speed,
gravity redlines,
blinding, see
Courage,
shy wings bend
first close to her body,
then straighten, extending
Strength in curve and rise –
Grace. Precipice. Desire.
For dVerse Quadrille
qbit 
That opening couplet – immediately arresting.
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Than,k you!
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This is stellar, what a description that has a very classical sense yet in a free verse…
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Thank you for picking that up. I tried to ride the edge of classical enough to bring it in, but not overwhelm. That was the hope anyway!
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oh the opening couplet had me thinking of how beautiful love truly is – so so beautifully written
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So many beautiful fragments in this. So beautiful.
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courtship’s sky dance
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I love the mingling of classic and free form in this. Your opening couplet is stellar.
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Thank you so much! Glad you liked the classical/free form thing. Was fun to do.
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I see soaring over the body of a new lover. That is my image.
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Sure, that works. I hope my wife also sees newness as a compliment, LOL!
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I would bet she does, with true love, every embrace, although the form may be repetitive, is nevertheless new.
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A relationship is kept alive with those eyes of newness!! Tis a discipline and a pleasure
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I love the opening stanza, riffing on the old Donovan song, ‘Yellow is the colour of my true love’s hair, but yours is so much more beautiful, especially the ‘cave cliffs where swallows dive’.
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Wow, better than Donovan, LOL! Yes, I hoped that would echo in the background. There’s also a “Black is the color of my true love’s hair” which I think Donovan borrowed. So hopefully I’m in good company.
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I wondered if you were harkening to Nina Simone or to the Appalacian/nee Scottish folk song. I’m swooning to this. Gorgeous imagery of diving in.
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Yes, that was meant to be part of the echo. Thanks!
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yes, that song reference comes through as a wonderful tribute and nexus here, but especially nice to have the synesthetic shift from color to grade of incline, foreshadowing that wonderful precipice. Little deaths, large loves. passionate and sensual. stunning
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Thank you so much!
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Thanks do much!
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Very lovely!
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Oh my heart that is a gorgeous opening! ❤️ Love this! 😀
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Excellent use of the extended metaphor – glorious!
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Extended metaphors r us.
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You had me at the first line using “steep” as a colour. Sensual with smooth rhyme. Just lovely read aloud.
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Wow. Lovely write. I was pulled in by the first stanza. Thanks for reading.
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The opening was simply beautiful and drew me in further to read. I was not disappointed.
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Creative and effective use of the prompt!
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Nice lines: “where swallows dive
Like falling love”
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I love the first two,lines which are a “set up” for the rest of the poem. That “falling” in love. I’m reminded of the Cahows’ nesting grounds in Bermuda…the holes and miniature caves in the rocky cliffs along the shores. You see them nosedive into the water from their soaring points, and it almost looks like careening into the rocks – at the last minute into the cave nest they disappear.
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“Steep” as a color? Are you kiddin’ me? BRILLIANT.
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Ahahaha! Thanks.
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Excellent poem, with a killer opening!
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