Quiet Flame by Karen Kelsay
by Patricia | 2.25.13
I read through my old diary tonight.
Inside a sweater drawer is where I found
it—tattered travel log. It had a slight
tear on the spine, but still was neatly bound.
I read my thoughts on some far distant night,
stone turrets wrapped in ivy, summer-crowned
green willow trees with soft Parisian light
across the way. My memory swirled around
each consecrated word, until your name
appeared, a shining brilliance so profound
it burnt the yellowed page with quiet flame.
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Karen Kelsay, native of Orange County, has been widely published over the past five years in poetry journals and anthologies. She is the founder of Kelsay Books, a thriving new press comprised of four imprint companies. You can read various articles about Karen, her press, and her poetry at: The Poet’s Corner, The Nervous Breakdown, Katie Hoerth’s Blog, Thick With Conviction, and A Motley Vision.
“Quiet Flame” was first published in String Poet.
February 27th, 2013 at 9:11 am
I love the romantic lighting in this poem. Such a good encapsulation of the feeling. It reminds me of the trip I took in high school with my choir to Italy… all romance. Almost unreal, looking back on it.
February 28th, 2013 at 5:27 pm
And the special reverence of old journals/diaries is captured so beautifully. I feel the same way about my volumes of scribbles.