A beautiful, thoughtful, and insightful read. I like the way you've woven the words and images together to allow your readers a glimpse into a private, meaningful experience. Well done!

Thanks to you and any other members who are commenting on the poem; and I'm looking forward to returning the favor - what a wonderful idea to create forum space for us writers and lovers of literature. I'm brand new here, so I'm jumping back and forth exploring the site and all that it offers.

Although my poem speaks to those universal feelings of loneliness that I think we all experience from time to time, I didn't want it to be tearful and overly sentimental (that isn't my personality!); however, I did want it to be realistic enough so that readers could tap into some aspect of the wistful feelings for past loves and identify with those emotions.

Happy Birthday, Dawn! Sending good vibes your way

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm new here too and am having fun navigating the site and exploring the features. So far, I'm finding this to be a very friendly cyber-community and hope you have fun and maybe meet your special someone.

Hi, Handsome -

Welcome to the forum and I hope you make many new friends here, as well as meeting your special lady.

(Written for a poetry assignment in imagery.)

COMING AWAKE

It was a nice place to be, adrift in dream,
my face nestled into the pillow, believing it to be
the soft hollow of your shoulder.

Mews and purrs, a scratchy cat tongue
on my cheek intrude,
coaxing me into reluctant waking.

I cling to solid images that now shape-shift
into vaporous tendrils
that float through my mind like ghosts.

Reaching out, my hand brushes silky cat fur,
not the expected roughness
of your unshaven chin.

The alarm clock sounds the death knell
of such indulgences
as I allow myself these days:

A now older woman who finds intimacy
in the captured dreams that lodge
in youthful memory cells,

To be safely summoned forth
in the comforting embrace
of darkness.

Hi, Fort Myers Friends -

Joined yesterday and have posted the first draft of my profile and a number of pics.

I retired to Ft. Myers last year from my corporate job in Texas and definitely made the right choice, especially when we arrive at this time of the year when the weather is cooler and sunny - most days anyway.

I'm hoping to make new friends on this website and wish you all a happy holiday season.

FFL