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A Waltz of Longing

In the heat of the day, we begin
With a glance and a breath, cheek to chin.
Though our steps misalign, still we glide
With a tremble of flame in our stride.

It’s a perilous waltz that we turn,
And in red and in gold, your form burns.
Don’t you fall now, my darling—hold tight—
Feel my heart race the moon through the night.

I am lost in your gaze, wholly blue,
As the ballroom dissolves into fugue,
Here in heaven with stars as our guide—
Yet the moon draws us back with the tide.

Now the mist starts to lift as I fear
That the earth sings the morning song near.
Then this poor man, who loved you the most,
Finds his muse fading back into ghost.

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Jacob Schultz is a physician who lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

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8 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Jacob, this is a dreamy doozy that feels like a waltz. I danced with the words through this poem. How cleverly inspired to include the word, “fugue,” as a rhyming word. This brought back memories of my vacation with evenings spent at outside waltz concerts along the Danube in June. The mystical quality was enchanting

    Reply
    • Jacob Schultz

      Thank you, Roy. I’m glad it brought back some good memories – sounds entrancing. I very much appreciate the compliment!

      Reply
  2. Adam Sedia

    The anapests give us the feel of a waltz, and the scene you describe is mystic and haunting, Gothic and Romantic at once.

    Reply
    • Jacob Schultz

      I love the way you described it. That’s what I was going for — thank you, Adam!

      Reply
  3. Paul A. Freeman

    A haunting piece of wistfulness. I really enjoyed this, Jacob. Thanks for the read.

    Reply
    • Jacob Schultz

      I appreciate that Paul. That’s quite the compliment coming from someone like yourself!

      Reply
  4. Margaret Coats

    You’re a splendid leader in waltz time, Jacob, racing from the heat of the day all through the night to nearly morning. The scene is well set with just a few cosmic and mystic details. The full meaning of “longing” arrives almost unexpectedly at the end. Enchanting!

    Reply
    • Jacob Schultz

      Thank you Margaret. I am glad you picked on all of that.

      Reply

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