In Pursuit [Ghazal]

by The Queen   Apr 24, 2013


'Neath the glitter and glamour of autumn's mystic skyline,
stood a crowd of crooners, eyeing the majestic skyline.

Melodious; each ballad shall and forever be sung of;
like a wind-chime, twirling into the panoptic skyline.

The gravity of love's a force to never reckon with,
we're but slaves destined to fall from the aphotic skyline.

We've all sworn lover's oath upon cupid's futile arrow,
shall our last breath escape into the monistic skyline.

A stalker seeking intimacy, to know and be known,
alas, I shall but remain, The Queen of static skyline.

**FOP challenge**

------

**A Ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain.

There are many restrictions to the form:

The same meter or syllable count in each line.
Minimum of five non-rhyming couplets.
Each couplet should be independent as a poem yet all couplets should be subtly interconnected.
First couplet: both lines must end in a refrain.
Each couplet: last line should end in the same refrain.
Each word immediately preceding the refrain should end in rhyme through out the ghazal, with the exception of the first line, which does not rhyme.
Last verse should include your pen-name.

------------------

Copyright (C) 2013 by EvanescentMoon.
22.04.13

1


Did You Like This Poem?

Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by Samantha

    I'm putting together a poem portfolio for my Poetry class... thinking of writing a ghazal.. boy did you nail this!! I think these are the hardest of the 5 types of poems we are writing (sonnets- Petrarchan and Shakespearian, villanelles, ghazals, and pantoums)

    Might actually try it out on my own now!
    Yet again, amazing job!

  • 11 years ago

    by Saerelune

    Well I don't really know what to say really, you did a great job on this form. Opting for "skyline" as the refrain was something I wouldn't have expected, it's a word that already provokes a beautiful image on its own.

    I thought this poem to be very majestic (fits your penname, eh? =p). Each couplet reflected something that seemed out of reach, so magical and omnipresent. Every time I read one of your poems, I can't help but praise you for your eloquence. Your vocabulary always helps to make even the most common images something special. Not to say that what you've presented here is trite, though. Crowd of crooners, a stalker seeking intimacy, last breath escaping into the skyline ... these, and many more, are very worthy of highlighting. Each couplet of yours contained at least one little gem, but you also seem to soften them by adding some familiarity.

    I can only say that this poem is clearly made to be a Ghazal, whether due to atmosphere or technique. Well done!

    P.s: I am still trying to write that bloody sestina you ordered. =p

  • 11 years ago

    by Darren

    This was a hell of a challenge and you really nailed it.
    I wouldn't even contemplate trying to write something as complex as this at the moment.
    what works for me is the way you have managed to have each couplet read as a poem in it's own right.
    There is some clever word usage, 'cupids futile arrow'
    (loved that bit)
    'A stalker seeking intimacy'
    (my favourite part)

    Very clever write
    well done.

  • 11 years ago

    by L

    Thanks for sharing, I might give this form a try.

    I mean the way you did it... it doesn't look that hard lol.

    I'll see once I'm struggling while writing it.

    • 11 years ago

      by The Queen

      Lol, give it another try, construct a refrain first, followed by the rhyme [before the refrain], meter and theme will come naturally. :)

  • 11 years ago

    by Britt

    I didn't know you had to include your pen name in a Ghazal. This form is so restrictive, I would definitely have to go off of an example rather than the rules themselves.. it's so complicated for me.

    You did a really great job here. I like how your repetitive line was skyline -- SO many different things you can do with it to create different feelings and emotions.

    Your pen name also slid in perfectly there. I thought the challenge to you of a ghazal was mean, but you sure showed up here. Beautifully written!

    • 11 years ago

      by The Queen

      Well. we're even now, hahaha, a sestina will surely keep her on her toes. :P