This poem is one about love and how the storms of life can suddenly cause it to be torn from our lives. It is also about those times when we have loved but not been in love. True love is the key, and when it is false, it cannot last. True love is not a game, it is the giving of oneself completely and unconditionally. Without the deep roots of commitment, the weak tree—false love—will surely fall.
I’m posting this poem on Jingle Poetry’s, Poetry Potluck today. Slip on over and take a look at some of the cool poems you will find there. Some very talented poets frequent Jingle’s site!
A Sudden Fall
We danced in the heat of summer
Around us the air thick and sweet
Embraced in a bittersweet struggle
Ever seeking yet never complete
Moisture clinging to glistening bodies
Grass dark and wet with the dew
Black clouds build in the distance
My eyes seeing nothing but you
Days spent by a river run empty
The sun having dried it away
Still… we held on like a small one
Holds mother’s finger at end of day
Walks to nowhere, stop in a shade
Beneath oaks with arms open wide
Do you love me, you ask, holding breath
I do, yet not knowing… I lied
We sleep, things are moving unseen
In the morning storm comes to call
Love, a dry leaf, flutter earthward
The day dawns on a sudden fall
Copyright © 2011 C. Mashburn
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Charlie
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Marbles In My Pocket ~ The Official Blog of Charles L. Mashburn ~ Poems, Short Stories, and random thoughts from the author of "Be Still... and know that I am God" 
Sherry Mashburn said
Beautifully poignant
marit said
I like the first line of this a lot! Thanks for stopping my my site.
charlesmashburn said
Your welcome, and right back at you! I appreciate your comment!
Old Raven said
Well this is wonderful and ever so true. We humans are so fallible. I appreciate that you wrote this without laughing at anyone. Really good. I chuckle for a piece of the poem upon which commented is saying much the same thing!
charlesmashburn said
I’m not sure what you mean by “I appreciate that you wrote this without laughing at anyone.”
And the similarity was noted, as well as the fact that your peice has to do with not only the raven, but the wolf. The original version of this poem was written in my “wolf”” years. While I have been fascinated by wolves since I was nine, I had a period in the late nineties where much of my writing was influenced by them.
Thank you so much for the read and the wonderful comments..
Jingle said
sweaty and powerful,
love the title, a job well done.
Happy Potluck!
charlesmashburn said
Sweaty! Now that’s a comment I can warm up to!
Thanks, Jingle! I appreciate you a whole bunch!
Miki said
Awesome poem – you write beautifully!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Miki! I appreciate you reading and commenting! Such wonderful compliments!
thingy said
This really moved me. Wonderful write.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I aprreciate the wonderful comment!
Melanie Jan Bishop said
This is so beautiful.You must be a very deep poet. Please send me more. I can learn from you my friend.
Melanie
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Melanie. I don’t know about deep, and I don’t know that you can learn from me, but you can see more of my poetry and writing here on my blog.
Thanks again for the wonderful comments and compliments!
Ravenblack said
What a beautiful scene!
“Do you love me, you ask, holding breath
I do, yet not knowing… I lied”
A lie, yet one feels it’s forgivable and itself done out of love. Truly awesome.
Liked this poem very much. 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments!
Timoteo said
Very nice imagery here, (And thanks for the visit!)
charlesmashburn said
And, thank you! I aprreciate the read and comment!
liv2write2day said
There is so much pain and confusion when we are in a relationship that is compelling but not complete/real. Smooth flowing poetry.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you fro the very nice comments. Please come by again!
Sam said
Charlie, you’ve captivated what many of us undergo in certain relationships in our life… well written my friend.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the read and kind comments!
dsnake1 said
so lovely, and poignant.
these lines :“Do you love me, you ask, holding breath
I do, yet not knowing… I lied”
really nails it for me, and yeah, the intro is a great read too. Thanks!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! Those are some awesome comments, and I am deeply appreciative! Stop by again sometime!
Andy said
Hello.
I am the kind of person who believes wholeheartedly in love. Its what I know, it’s who I am and it’s what I write about. Love is the greatest emotion ever bestowed upon us but sadly, it is often abused by those with unclean hearts. When I love, I give myself completely. To exist in this world without love is foreign to me.
This was a very poignant and well-composed piece.
Thank you for sharing with us (and for stopping by my blog).
charlesmashburn said
And, thank you, Andy. I agree with your take on love! Unconditional!
Katherine said
A moving poem with excellent imagery. I can imagine the scene where all of these took place. Well done 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Katherine. Your visit and comments are much appreciated!
Kim Nelson said
This is exceptional. The flow and rhyme scheme are quite pleasing and the emotions shared and evoked are strong and true.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you so much, Kim. I very much appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on my poem. Your compliments are a wonderful bonus!
Ashwini said
You have created some lovely images, which make the feelings intense. Thank you for a visit to my blog. My best wishes to you!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you so much for the visit and comments. They are very much appreciated.
Jeanie McBain said
This is wonderful, lovely visuals I enjoyed reading this very much
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Jeanie! Your visit and comments are very much appreciated!
Shashi said
Oh!!! It was beautiful… and your ending lines were perfect…
‘Love, a dry leaf, flutter earthward
The day dawns on a sudden fall’
Thanks for joining in the Poetry Potluck WK 43, which I am hosting for the first time, this week. Hope you have enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing you next week too with your lovely poetry…
Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/07/whispers-cuckoos-song-and-smell-of-love.html
At Twitter @VerseEveryDay
charlesmashburn said
Thank you so much, Shashi! I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem, and I truly appreciate your comments and visit. I am enjoying the site very much, too!