chiaroscuro
like Janus, i have two faces:
one looking forward with hope,
the other, behind, with regret.
naturally, i am often trapped in the present
and neither fore nor aft looks
particularly appealing.
likewise, my colors are somewhat blessed
with contrast.
the lighter tones are merely a paler gray
fluted with silver, over which shadows
of black and scarlet swirl tumultuously.
i carry both palettes tirelessly, knowing
i am blank, undefined, without them.
but who would treasure the portrait as a
whole? porcelain skin and auburn eyes--
each necessary to enhance the other.
i can only wait, and hope not to fade
overmuch with the passing of time.
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Submitted on May 02, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 32 sec read
- 2 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | XXXXXA XXXXXAX XXXXX |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 623 |
Words | 107 |
Stanzas | 3 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 7, 5 |
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"chiaroscuro" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/67981/chiaroscuro>.
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