Vain man, your use of the 'Royal we' is why you're unable to listen 
but solipsism's the loneliest cross so stop and look up. Listen 

hard to admirers' hearts; ours, this deep, mirrored pool of tears
in which your beauty rebounds.  Still dripping. Listen 

to sighs of such fruitless love, and scorned though we are
there's no blame in this pain. Yet lovestruck, I listen

for amorous words but hear only moans, like the ghost of a wind
caught in glass. Break out, break free from those hypnotized eyes. Listen

how poesy intones in the brook, a soundscape of bird call, some rumble,
some thunder and pattering drops on young leaves. Listen

out for the whirr of wings, to chattering creatures, their cries in the night
these break-ins through silence all rally relief. Now listen -

and hear just the one-tolling bell; for those who have loved there is mourning.
You've only a dumbstruck mimic to grieve. Look up, look out - and listen.

32 thoughts on “Echo’s thoughts to Narcissus”

1. Bravo nice one. Thanks for the mini glossary.

   Much♡love

   1. Always something to learn at the Poets Pub Gillena! The Ghazal was new to me

2. I enjoyed your poem and the wise echo of listen.

   1. Thank you Dwight

      1. You are welcome, Jay.

         1. Laura 😉

3. I love your descriptions and the wonderful imagery you use, especially these:

   “like the ghost of a wind
   caught in glass”

   and “how poesy intones in the brook, a soundscape of bird call, some rumble,
   some thunder and pattering drops on young leaves”

   1. Many thank Melissa for listening to those chosen lines 😉

4. We spend way too much time listening to ourselves. (K)

   1. Precisely and hence stray into solipsism

5. Verily, verily, it’s time to wake up and listen. This is splendid. But I don’t think I can write something like this. Yet. I liked every line…

   1. I usually find poetry styles a challenge but loved the Ghazal and it’s couplets for these two

6. Your opening line response to Neruda, is a wonderful statement that precludes all need to be heard.

   1. Many thanks Maria – I hope Narcissus heard her thoughts though!

7. I wonder if he will ever listen… the call of self is so very much stronger… but I love that you gave poor Echo a voice.

   1. Yes she needed one and the Ghazal a perfect outlet

8. I liked the way you used the word, listen, in your poem. 🙂

   1. That repeat highlights too that it’s all Echo could do

9. A well-crafted ghazal, Laura. I think there are some who will never listen–who don’t hear the wind or brooks, or others’ words.
   Thank you for the prompt!

   1. Thank you Merrril – my first Ghazal but I rather like this form. I guess the listen command can be widened beyond the myth here to our wider divided world

      1. You’re welcome, Laura.

10. Lovely poem and thanks for hosting. Learned a lot again. Ghazal was ne to me.

    1. Thank you for your appreciation of poem and poetry form

       1. Well, so typical for me I even forgot to add the question, but fixed that now. Thanks again it was a pleasure to do this exercise and get creative.

          1. And thank you for joining in

11. Thank you for this challenge Laura, the Ghazal was new to me too – also the Book of Questions which I immediately sent for – the beautiful illustrated version by a friend of Pablo Neruda’s. I will still have to send for the full book as this one only has some thirty questions…

    1. I saw that book recently and was impressed with the artwork – mine is the unillustrated version – so glad you enjoyed the prompt choice

12. A great challenge, I am going to enjoy reading the poetry! Having an issue with blogger/wordpress right now, my comments won’t post on most blogs, but rest assured I am reading.

    1. How irritating for you Helen – thanks for persevering and reading

13. This flowed like a stream, so soft and rhythmic.

    1. That fits so well with the scenario -many thanks for the observation

       1. Quite welcome.

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