This is my attempt at a Ghazal for dVerse.
Over star-glimmered waves, we journeyed and sailed under the moon.
There we bemoaned our fate, still sailing—railed under the moon.
We see the fork-tongued serpent, slither-scaled under the moon,
she, no siren, silver-voiced with hair unveiled under the moon.
From the towering giant, one-eyed, we quailed under the moon,
but scurried we, when blinded he was thus curtailed under the moon.
On blood-wine seas, the winds caught and prevailed under the moon
And what of the gods, we flattered, yet failed, under the moon?
What lands should we conquer? If heroes, we’re hailed, under the moon.
And what tales of those places to you we’d regale under the moon.
Do we return to love, or to marriages failed, under the moon?
My own wife, unconsidered, what of her travails under the moon?
Too far, too soon, the poet sleeps unassailed under the moon
to the gentle rhythm of the waves, inhales, exhales, under the moon

Carl Gustav Carus [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Truly a poetic masterpiece, I loved the way you crafted such mesmerising imagery with the frequent usage of under the moon. Thank you so much for sharing such a glorious post! According to your convenience please do read some of my writings would love to know what you think about them 😊
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I will take a look. 🙂
Thank you for respecting my request, please feel free to explore any of my writings whenever you feel like 🙂
This is lovely, Merril! I think you added extra rhymes too! It gives the poem a beautiful flow, but I can see why it was tricky 🙂
Thank you, Jane.
I’m rather pleased with how it turned out, even though it might not fit the ghazal definition exactly (whatever it may be). 😉
It’s close enough for me 🙂
🙂
But it does!
Thanks, Ken! 🙂
I like this very much, both the inspired subject matter and the beautiful words. I especially love “slither-scaled”.
Thank you very much, Rosemary!
I liked that one, too. 🙂
This really echoes the rhythms of the waves. Beautiful!
I don’t think I’ll have a chance to try this form right now, but I’m filing it away…(K)
Thank you, Kerfe.
I didn’t think I was going to do this one either, but. . .well, then I did. Now today, I have to actually do work. 🙂
I hear you. I’m having trouble with that myself. Very scattered so far this year….
Excellent, Merril!
Thank you, Ken.
It’s like a double ghazal…great use of the rhyme and refrain but in every line. Marvellous. I love the progression through the piece and the thoughtful questions posed.
Thanks so much, Paul!
Rhythm, rhyme, repeated refrain. Well done.
Thank you, Derrick!
Life taking its course…under the moon. Love it!
Thanks Vivian! 🙂
🙂
I feel like being tide… constantly pulled by moon…
Ah yes, there is that.
I like your peaceful ending!
Dwight
Thank you, Dwight!
What a difficult form! You managed it very well. There is so much to think about, and yet it’s like a lullaby, which creates an interesting tension between conscious and unconscious awareness. Thank you!
Thank you very much, Tracy!
Nice inhaling and exhaling of those waves. They do seem to do that.
Yes. Thank you, Frank!
I like the style of this one … and I couldn’t help but think about the moon’s unique event earlier this week.
Thank you, Frank. Yes, the moon event was probably in the back of my mind.
Your poetry often has a mythological vibe to it, which you frequently connect to current events. Is this a new form for you, the ghazal? Wonders never cease, Merril!
Thanks, Marian. I guess those old tales just still seem appealing to me. 🙂 I think I’ve written one ghazal before, and whenever I’ve tried it again, it just seemed too contrived. I wrote this one for the challenge.
Wow! This should be in a poetry anthology, Merril. I am blown away with the beauty, depth and well turned poetic passages with rhymes of such unique qualities. I am giving you a standing ovation now. Clapping. Smiling!
Awwww–how very kind you are, Robin. Thank you so much! 🙂
Lovely work!
Thank you so much, Bekkie!