Manatita is an esteemed author living in London, UK. He writes spiritual books, flash fiction and esoteric poetry, his favourite genre.

Ode to Karina

She stood poised, emitting peerless verses from her lips

Like melodies, taken from the rhythmical cadences of beauty.

Bars – not chocolates – but musical scores and scrolls

Flowed through her, her shine reaching for the moonlight.

Yet the wind was her fragrant breath, cascading red roses --

A redolence of eloquent words -- tracing fire in the veins of

Poetry lovers, exploding a thousand rhapsodies in their being.

Sweet Karina, goddess Saraswati has laced your tongue with wine,

Igniting an inebriated sweetness in my longing. I looked at the

Attentive gaze of poets around you, a vortex of Love, streaming

Through their psyche, imbibing the magical allure of your

Enchanting verses, now dancing in their core. My Heart

Glints like magnets, King David blends in the rapture of your lyrical psalms,

Only to wash my soul with tears; paying homage to thy Light Divine.

Words … they are like sweet songs holding court within thy lips,

Stirring inside me, an Instagram of my feelings;

Whispering silent promises to the moon.

A measureless torrent of intimacy, they weave

Out of my breath and synergy, waltzing on the crest of

Longing In the agony of my cries.

Last week I performed at Poetical Word, the Emcee

Was so moved by my recital, that he immediately

Engaged the audience in three claps for me,

Which ended with a solace: ‘we … are healed!” Words … I wept

Copiously on reading once, of a woman on the verge of suicide.

She heard the enchanting, life-giving parchment of an Empress,

And changed … her mind.

We may not know the impact of the wordsmith, on one’s

State of mind. Each Bard sings a melody taken from a manuscript in Paradise. Sea water caresses the pearl on the marine bed;

The ocean serenades its opulence. Magnolias rise and waltz

With the dawn, whispering the allure of canaries.

The lily said to the sunflower: “Peace be with you, my radiant sister.”

Orion kisses our gaze at twilight and says: “Good night, my kindred Spirits,

We’ll meet again tomorrow.” An agony of echoes whispered from my core:

“Make me a servant, O Love,” and the rose tore its golden garments,

Offering its scent as a sacrifice to this cause.

Each sweet word spoken, each act of magic released,

Engages the Spirit of the one for whom it was intended.

And Karina, the Poetess, weaves a tapestry in the ambience so

Beautiful, that my tears become a raiment for the Beloved.

Her impeccable words embrace the sunset, sending kisses

To the breeze; touching my breath like a symphony from Mozart.

Lantern says: When I was lost in my darkness, it was the

Resonance of your skilled wizardry that set me free.

Now your tongue becomes a scripted calligraphy --

Scribbling love-songs on my Heart, whose charm echoes,

The effulgent excellence of the soul.

Manatita, The Lantern Carrier. 3^rd December, 2019

Beauty and words

© 2020 manatita44

Comments

manatita44 (author) from london on March 15, 2020:

Diane,

An amazing comment from you. You have a very receptive soul. Kudos to you, my Dear. Gratitude

Diane Denison from Cincinnati Ohio on March 15, 2020:

Powerful beautiful flow of poetic words. It is amazing how you bring your reader into the flow and dance of the poetic words you write. Sharing

manatita44 (author) from london on March 14, 2020:

Ruby,

I'm using the creative spirit. She's very real and I did this for her birthday. Different name but I'm a monk really, so I just use my intuitive feel. Easy for me. Glad you like it.

Peggy,

Thank you so much!

Yes, it's designed to be a play on words and some of the things there I have read about, like people changing their minds from wanting to self-destruct and some other aspects of the poem are also very real, such as how I'm received or applauded in poetry circles.

I did a poem once on Black History Month, sang four lines of Amazing Grace at the end and the whole crowd stood and sang with me. It was amazing! I did a poem on refugees once, and a guy ran all the way from the back and kissed me. All these are very real. Gratitude.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 14, 2020:

Words do carry much meaning and have power. If your words stopped the planning of suicide, you can always be grateful that those words flowed from your mouth to the person who needed to hear it at the right time.

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on March 14, 2020:

Is the picture of the woman Karina? She is very beautiful! When you write that you shed tears it seems that a closeness is renewed like the first time I read your poetry. Thank you.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 14, 2020:

Yes Bill.

That was a real occurrence. I had not experienced something like this before. So touching! Thank You!

Shaloo,

No, the name is different and the poetess is a young black Afro/Londoner. You are seeing the poem before she does, but she has heard it. Cheers.

Shaloo Walia from India on March 14, 2020:

A beautiful ode to Karina...I don't know if it's her in the pictures but she looks radiant and beautiful especially where she's wearing the headgear.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 14, 2020:

"We are healed".....such power in those three words.

I feel lightheaded with joy and relief...I am healed!

Thank you and blessings always

manatita44 (author) from london on March 13, 2020:

Very sweet of you to say so, Pamela. Thank you. On my way home

Will visit you later.

Hi Lorna

So happy you like my work. I include music in many of my poems. I feel humbled. Thank you so much!

Lorna Lamon on March 13, 2020:

'Touching my breath like a symphony from Mozart.' Such a wonderful combination of words Manatita. A beautiful Ode to Karina full of depth and mystical delight. Very soothing to read, like a balm. Perfect.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on March 13, 2020:

This poem is so beautiful. I love the phrases, such as ' Peace be with you, my radiant sister.” The words are beautiful as are the women in the two pictures. You never disappoint.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 13, 2020:

Thank you, Tyler.

Words come very easily to me. Appreciated.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 13, 2020:

Chuckle. Rosina you are jealous? Next one will be for an Indian girl. Haha.

Actually this poem was written for an African girl's birthday and My Underground Queen was a work on a commissioned black painting.

My Foreign Queen was also done for a young black Barbican poetess, whose work I admire.

Funny enough, I'm actually quite conscious of views like yours and I'm usually either neutral, or lean the other way. Go through my Hubs.

Nevertheless, your contribution is lovely and I do appreciate same. Much love.

Rosina S Khan on March 13, 2020:

An Ode to Karina with all its mystics and magic of words is certainly pleasant and delightful to absorb and feel in depth enormously. Thank you, Manatita, it seems you are infatuated with African girls' images lately and yet, they are all very beautiful. Thank you for a terrific hub.

Kyler J Falk from California on March 13, 2020:

The ease with which you present beauty through words and poetic flow continues to be an inspiration to me, Manatita.