Panacea, II

They are not long, the days of wine and roses. Out of a misty dream, our path emerges for a while, then closes, within a dream. –Ernest Dowson

She wallows in sombre melancholy
in shallow warmth of quivering candlelight
sipping sumptuous fruit of tangled vines, wine 
a cloak of panacea for anguishing pain 

Rich dark nectar blushes pale cheeks
a cascade of velvet cerise petals 
stains her plump pouting lips
with its exquisite tasting blood

Burning tears fall as summer rain 
spoiling the full-bodied elixir 
with sober indigo melancholy 
and banishing the mellow glow  

She whispers of loves lost, what remains 
with certainty the loss of fervent hope 
drowning sorrows in self-pity and regret 
as she watches the flame flicker ~ and die

©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: This is a complete revision of a poem I first wrote back in 2018.

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page