[griffonwing]

I just found this thread. I've been so long in News and Commentary (which I have bookmarked, I never saw this one.

I mostly write structured verse. I've dabbled in free verse, but I write better with structure.

This first one here was inspired by Lord Byron's She Walks In Beauty. I challenged myself to use the same rhyme scheme and meter as his. I had done a reading of She Walks in college, and totally fell in love with the work.

----EYES TOWARD HEAVEN-----

I see thine eyes of ocean bleu,
A mellow yearning calling me;
For my heart will I give to you,
And scale the mount and swim the sea.
But, nay. See I thine soul yearn, too.
But for another's company.

Can I not dream, and can't I gaze
Upon thy gracious angel's wings;
To picture myself in your praise,
And wearing one anthers rings;
To listen through an unseen haze
Onto the notes of love thou sings.

When I float down from clouds surround,
And am on pedestal no more,
I plant my feet firm on the ground
And unlock gates of heaven's door.
Oh, then perhaps I will have found
My angel, then I'll search no more.

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This last one pays homage to the odes of long ago. I chose to put the old style into the 21st century by basing the theme on the Civil War.

-----ODE TO A BATTLE LOST IN TIME-----

Yon hill ahead, deserted of its fame,
xxxxHolds memories of heaven and of hell.
For it was here two thousand soldiers came,
xxxxAnd here only a few would live to tell.
With bayonets and smoke, and gunfire blazed,
xxxxAnd men's lives lost whose life had just begun,
xxxxxxxxThe blood that spilled and filled o're crimson pools,
Along the ruined land that they had razed.
xxxxThe acts occured that day can't be undone,
xxxxxxxxNor make, again, of stones and bones, grand jewels.

The smoking guns, the choking of the throats,
xxxxThe calvary, a-stand from row to row,
And firing in the midst of dark blue coats,
xxxxStart felling brothers down, injustice show.
Among the haze of battle left and right,
xxxxGreat screams are heard from friends and comrades near.
xxxxxxxxWhat horror must be eating them inside?
What ghastly manner urging them to fight?
xxxxWhat strength had them to manage 'gainst their fear?
xxxxxxxxNo answer can there be except for pride.

A country split asunder, halved in two.
xxxxTheir pride allowing them to lose control.
A bitter choice, but no-one really knew
xxxxThe conflict would end in so great a toll.
But hist'ry has a way of echoing,
xxxxA way of duplicating past events.
xxxxxxxxI hope that we, the lesson learned, entomb,
Our brothers, those who fought and died that spring.
xxxxAnd giving thought, I feel we've come far, since
xxxxxxxxOn that hill, now, a garden grows full bloom.