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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Elfje: Memento Mori

Memories
Dance like
Pretty butterflies, fleeting,
Just out of reach -
Tantalizing

Treasured
Photographic memories
Reduced to graffiti
Etched by impetuous light -
Meaningless

Reality
Now fragmented;
Well-defined lines
Between fact and fiction
Blurred

Soul
Lost in
The labyrinth of
Tangled impressions, intangible expressions -
Chaotic

Wandering
Down the memory lane
Encroached by dementia
Bold steps
Falter

Time
Spares none:
A black hole
Vacuum-pulling all into
Oblivion

 


Written during the English Versification competition of the sub-district Youth Festival for the theme "Down the Memory Lane." My grandfather turned out to be the source of inspiration yet again, so you might recognize a few lines from my poem Moirae, which I "borrowed" when I couldn't come up with anything more suitable. All stanzas are in Elfje form, except for the penultimate one which is an inverted Elfje (1-4-3-2-1)

EDIT 22-11-12: I won the second place for the poem! :)

4 comments:

  1. Each of them, well written and beautiful. I agree wholeheartedly with the last one, though I don't think memories dance out of reach. Mostly, they come rushing back like a flood. :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm ecstatic that you found each of them well-written! And the last one was my favourite as well :)

      Thanks for reviewing!

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  2. Wonderful. I am glad to see that my playing with the form has expanded it's reach. When I was first introduced to the form I didn't know it was supposed to be single verses and wrote a trio. I've since played around with it and I am glad more are as well. I'll see if I can find it for you. No luck.

    But I have had a few piece posted at
    http://simplyelfje.wordpress.com/
    And you might find them in the Guest Elfje section. :)

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    Replies
    1. Indeed, Jules, the inversion was a stroke of brilliance on your part. Elfje is such a beautiful form to engage in.

      I've read many of your works (all of which were amazing), but haven't gotten to round to reviewing each one of them yet. School calls :(

      Thanks for taking your time to read and review!

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