(Memnos II) – A Silence In Which No One Sings

Posted byJoão-MariaPosted inPoetry (English)Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

memnos 2.1memnos 2.2memnos 2.3memnos 2.4memnos 2.5

        I’d like to think that, if you made it to this point, you hold the glory that my poem holds not, as you withstood it. I don’t particularly like anything I produce these days, but this one was a delicate endeavor to iron-out. Written over nearly two months, revised hundreds of times, wholesomely deleted in countless others, I don’t think any poem has ever caused me this amount of hardship in conception. Alas, I truly wanted to write another poem-of-memory, this turn related to my first youthful love and how I’ve felt about it hitherto.

        If you’re still with me, my gratitude is endless. I cannot fathom someone reading the entirety of this composition, but if you’ve liked even a portion of it, it would already allow worth into my strain, for which I would be unfathomably happy.

Johnny

(PS: The poem “Alto Como o Silêncio” is by Santomean poet Maria Manuela Margarido, which I translated for the purpose of citation; to my knowledge, there is no translated version of her works by a professional in such field)

Published by João-Maria

A tick clinging to the bristles of a purple boar.

52 thoughts on “(Memnos II) – A Silence In Which No One Sings”

  2. I love the last two stanzas of the second part, especially “My love exists as a distant constellation, dimming under the weight of Time; it exists in the I which was yours, but shall never again be mine.”

    I once took similar pains with a sonnet sequence about a moment of spiritual depth I had experienced. By the end, I found that it didn’t seem to hold the same meaning after being read so much, but now that I look back with some distance, it was a worthwhile journey!

    Always good to see you around! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Jacqueline!

      I feel your strenuous sound-weaving, as form can sometimes be a gigantic hindrance when one wishes to speak beyond the meter, beyond the rhyme, beyond the structure. I wrote many sonnets before, and even in distance, only a few charge with the weight I’d wish them to. And especially with something like spiritual depth, where the amount of what may be said seems almost like a solemn planetary ocean.

      I’m overjoyed that you liked some of the poem, and I’m always so grateful to have you read it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. You are right. This poem is quite lengthy and reading the whole of it is hard ,mostly by ‘aged eyes’. But I read half way through your translation and I felicitate you for your excellent work… a labour of love…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. It is a beautiful post Johnny. Beautiful poems. Worth saving and going through and absorbing at leisure. Worth the time and energy you have spent. Congratulations

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Ashok!

      To me, it’s already a beautiful, insurmountable blessing to be read by someone else, independent on how that reading is perceived; but to have that someone else call it beautiful, well, it just compounds the blessing.

      Thank you a million-fold, truly.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. Thanks for writing! This was good literacy practice. It sounded very classical and Greek. I like your word selection, but your style is a bit too precise. Try fixing the kerning.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Is the space between characters too slim? I must admit, I don’t give too much attention to the overall aesthetic or presentation, but perhaps I should.
      Any font or visual advice you are willing to provide? (At least, if that’s what you mean by kerning)

      Like

      Reply

  7. No, I think it’s too broad. It’s fine, it reads well and flows without too many glitches. A little more attention might help, might not. Depends.

    I’m willing but unable to provide visual advice. Fonts should be easy–they’re just in the menu at the top. Assuming web design standards don’t totally fucking crumble in the near future.

    Also, I think the title is a little ironic in that it was very noisy when no one was singing. Not “real” silence. I was under the impression that silence was quiet.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh, haha, I know how fonts work and how to transmute them, I was more asking in a tone of which font would you possibly recommend for a greater aesthetic clarity. Of course, I didn’t mean to ask quite literally how fonts work.
      Yes; physical silence is quiet and peaceful. In any work of symbolical or literary momentum, one is compelled to not understand things quite as dimensionally, so no, silence can be unrestful, it can be insanely unrestful, as absence of sound or expression does not equal a direct placidity.
      Furthermore, any mellifluous Art has trouble conveying the symbology of silence without omission, and omission, in poetry, is negation.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. I’m not sure about that last point in the last point, but however–thank you for appreciating the literary statements. I have no idea which fonts are clearer than others but I’m supposed to be learning about it. It’s a complicated matter and hard to grasp, but I do agree that if you’re irritated when it’s quiet it’s still irritating.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Silence can be the loudest sound in which one begs for the finality to occur, I believe. Not a poet in the truest sense but this work is so complete to my eyes and soul. Nobody I reckon enjoys their own work, I certainly don’t like reading my own stuff, not because it is bad though, mind you, just cos I don’t really. Your insecurity is a credit to your search for perfection, stay UP,PEACE

        Liked by 2 people

      1. it is a good thing and this is a beautiful thing. I found words that these past couple months have been left silent. Each time i read this a new memory surfaces and honestly your genius piece of art sent me trippin. thanks x

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, I’m overjoyed!
        That is the main purpose of these pieces, you see; they are woven from my own memories, but simultaneously, I meticulously prepare the order of details I can recall, so that lyrically (or through sound), it may reminisce someone of their own experiences. Almost trying to write an impersonal diary.
        I think that, if you are remembering figments of your life, my job was well done.
        And I’m super duper happy for that,
        thank you infinitely.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I respect and admire the works you share especially Memnos II. The first time I have responded with such outward emotion to text. They are delicately looped in with a sensitive view of experience and I would love to know how do you prepare these stories, your process of making
        it’s picturesque:) thanks again!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Johnny, I read your beautiful poetry yesterday, again today and I shall read it tomorrow as well. It touches my heart and is so very beautiful. There isn’t a single word out of place. To me it feels as if it’s floating gently in time and I am fortunate enough to have come alongside of it for a moment. Truly lovely. 🌷 worth every day of the two months you put into it. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Ellie, my dearest.
      You always fill me with insurmountable amounts of love and positivity, and I cannot fathom being worthy of such expressions, but I am so deeply honoured by them.
      I’m glad you felt so connect to my work, for if there is anyone I’m striving to impress, it would certainly be you.
      I adore you much, may we never miss each other for long.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. It is my true pleasure Johnny. Your thoughts sing because they come from within. I adore you much as well and I so agree, may we never miss each other for long. Do take care 🌷

        Like

    1. I’m as okay as I can, truly! You needn’t worry. There is a lot of pain being distilled because, even if densely shrouded in some lyricism, it is not the merriest of memories.
      Any memory, no matter how exurgent, finds itself tainted by the mere quality of being a memory (a no-longer, a surreal experience of phenomenon), as as any good memory finds itself handicapped by our longing to replicate it, any bad memory already holds that weight in its own architecture.
      Thus, no poem-of-memory can find itself free from, at least, a moderate amount of pain.
      But I’m presently good and well; I cannot write as much as I did before, as I run a moderately frenetic life, but I’m super duper.
      How about you?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. That was achingly beautiful. I am actually breathless and found myself clutching at my breast before I was done reading. An overwhelming piece. I was utterly undone by it. Thank you. I needed that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m happy you found it so, Julia! My poems are the work of a tender novice, but I find my impetus to grow not only in what I find is left unsaid, but also by words such as yours, ones that command humility and gratitude.
      And in such, I’m perpetually grateful, truly.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. I’ve been writing for a while, but in English, which is far from my native tongue, I’ve only written in for about a year, maybe less.
        With such frugal experience, it would be crushingly pretentious to assume I’m anything but a novice, yet my dedication is unwavering, and perhaps that compensates for the relatively lithe experience.
        I’m not certain I can match such expectations of treasure, but I’m very hopeful that I may, and even more intensely hopeful if I have people such as yourself right beside me.
        Again, thank you so much Julia. Your kindness is abound.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. I really enjoyed this one. I especially love your use of metaphor and personification as its inspired the muscle of my imagination to flex just to try to grasp even a portion of what you meant. Really beautiful. Btw, thanks for following The Poets Peace, your support means a lot.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Pingback: Fiction Circular 7/4/19 – Logos

    1. Ah, thank you so much! If I can inflict speechlessness into a writer, then maybe, some aspects of what I do are worth keeping, and furthermore, worth doing, and that is a priceless feeling.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Monumental. Has me bemoaning my weak efforts. But seriously you are so talented. Love each work you produce because you are an absolute star. Stay up my fellow writer. I say that to put myself on your level in that regardless of quality we both write, ha. Stay up Caliath

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks a ton Drew! I don’t feel distant from any writer, despite the quality they may purport themselves to be in, we can never have a faithful perception of anything close to us, as it couldn’t be sincere. I’m super glad that you like my stuff, it really effuses me to do better and do more. Infinite gratitude, my dude.

      Like

      Reply

  19. Your poetry is almost indescribable, certainly beyond ‘beautiful’; hearkens back to the classic poets.

    Like

    Reply

  21. This is the first time I’ve read your work, and you had me from your opening lines “the island speaks to you of feral roses….” WOW. I wish I had written that, those words convey so much. I love this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  23. Alto Como o Silencio is beautiful. Your poem is wow for me. Thanks for giving me like of my poem: We Can Change. It was my poem about my frustration of work in office and miss my late younger bro.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. I am not really good at writing any piece of literature but I love to read and I loved this piece of art! I wish I could learn how to write like this.

    Like

    Reply
  28. Pingback: (Memnos II) – A Silence In Which No One Sings – Transcendent Sovereignty of Dreams

  29. I confess, since I’m at work, I could not read this entire entry. But, I read a couple, and the first poem or part really struck me. I know you said you don’t like your writing these days, but…let this be a testament – your writing is good! Don’t stop! It resonated with me.

    Thank you for checking out my writing/reading blog, too! I appreciate it. Us writers gotta stick together!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.