Poems of Love and Loss
by Benjamin Barrick
Clark High School in NISD
Benjamin Barrick is a San Antonio native, high school senior, and lover of literature. He will be attending Texas A&M University in the fall, majoring in Engineering. He has no prior publications, but invites interested
A Pale White Horse
In my dream, you rode a horse
Whose flanks were pale and white.
I tried to speak, but ‘round my neck
A serpent coiled tight.
You cupped my face, looked in my eyes,
And shaved off locks of hair.
You sapped my strength and drained my will
And left me unawares.
You offered me that tainted fruit,
Oh! If only I’d known.
Your kiss was only bitter water,
Your heart was hard as stone.
I struck your head a mortal wound,|
But forty-two times I failed.
For each month you healed again,
Not once did I prevail.
Still asleep, but yet awake,
I remembered who I was.
Wrapped in sackcloth I did stand,
Flame poured from my jaws.
At my side, another horse, its
Rider Faithful and True.
And the one you tried to conquer
Turned to conquer you.
For three and one half days I rested,
In the street my body laid.
But when the eighty-fifth hour arrived,
I did rise up from that grave.
I see a little piece of You
I see a little piece of You
In every Good thing that exists.
The Deep expanse of ocean blue,
The Sweet embrace of morning’s mist.
From mountains tall, that Pierce the sky,
Ravines that Rend the earth below,
To forests full of creatures Shy.
In all these things your Love does show.
The moss that Grows on ancient trees,
A sparkling gem, with Verdant hue.
Across a field, a Pleasant breeze,
All guide my mind to thoughts of You.
When God created all the Earth,
To all He gave your soul and Heart.
To give the world, divine, its Worth,
He used His greatest work of Art.
Freshly Fallen Snow
She is the freshly fallen snow;
Three inches, two, or less
Is enough to understand
The woman with which I am blessed.
Like the snow, her face is fair,
Her heart pristine and pure.
But that is not my exigence,
Of this fact I am sure.
I have walked down many streets
Upon which few men trod.
But when those streets bear winter’s dust,
Men pass and smile and nod.
White winter snow exposes the heart
And elevates every man’s soul.
Oh! What would it do to have fresh-fallen snow
Cover a fallen world whole?
She has the wonder of winter’s white grace
In her gaze, her caress, and her kiss.
But unlike the winter, when warm summer comes,
Her I will not have to miss.
Interview with the Author
1. What inspired you to write this piece? What was your thought process throughout?
Lord Byron’s “She Walks in Beauty” inspired me to start writing my own poetry. The influence of Byron and other romantic poems can be seen in my melodramatic style and emphasis on musical devices.
2. What do you hope readers will take away from your piece? What effects do you want the piece to have on the person, community, or society?
One theme that repeatedly arises from my work, sometimes unintentionally, is the sanctity of love. This is reflected in the religious imagery that is often used when describing experiences with love.
3. What is your favorite piece of fiction (short story, novel, flash fiction, etc.) that you’ve ever read? Why?
In order to provoke thought, a poem must be complex. It can be complex in device, theme, context, or some combination of the three, but it must be complex. How can a piece provoke thought if it is simple?4. If you plan on continuing to write, what are some goals/plans you may have for your future?
Poetry, like all art, serves an infinite number of purposes. Right now, however, poetry serves to challenge the minds of readers in a time when remaining complacent is easier than it’s ever been.