On Samhain --

The Absence of His Presence

*

Upon the autumn twilight o'er the fen
along the silent pond in grave repose
resound the scolds of each keen winter wren
while purple-loosestrifes frostbit waste in woes --
as yet a gaze enframed by pearl-laced snow
within a silver pool of brittle glass
reveals a cailín essences ago
ere forty springtides lone brief came to pass --
and round the eyes slow withered noonlit skin,
the damask of the cheek soft fading died,
a grimace fixed and wry cold-blooded grin
the golden time and brilliant hard belied --
before this aged bone hook long reached to grasp
in muddied death no ghost there be to clasp.

*

Contest: The Cauldron of Winter

Sponsor: Anne-Ri999

Form: English Sonnet on the Loss of Love

Major Poetic Technique: Visitation of Irony

Theme: Reality Unspiritual