On the Subtle Nature of Eros
With Poetics: Exploring Erotica as a Literary Genre, Sanaa Rizvi (adashofsunny) at dVerse ~ Poets Pub reminds us that erotic poetry “demands a higher degree of lyricism through an expression of subjectivity and ‘complex feelings’ ” yet need not rely on explicit sexuality.
I decided to start cold, by writing something yesterday, but erotica is not my thing. So, today I decided to tweak some of my older poems (none from WordPress) to achieve a subtle eroticism. Two of the poems received minor edits while a third (the second, here) is a blend of two separate poems to achieve the result.
Undying Thirst
Beauty that brings marvel
whenever I drink her in
Eyes most welcoming
Lips always tentative, at first
Neck inviting
Skin so soft, responsive
Curves that invite,
gladly meet
Always this marvel,
and a thirst never lost
yearning realized
sensuality
touching on fantasy
urgency embraced
emotions intertwined
soul gazing into
finding soul
thoughts coalescing with
anticipation realized
gratification
far exceeding anticipation
savoring sensations
a cheek resting gently turns
lips brush hip in tiny arcs, swirls
savory sensation
tongue lightly, cautiously
traces lines
savors the taste
lips move across, slowly
pausing midway
always savoring
lips reach the other side
hip mirrored
in swirls softly stroked
thoughts savor your approval
as hips move
echo your sigh
Images
top: Smithsonian American Art Museum – Eros et Musa, by Henry O. Walker
middle: Wikimedia Commons – The Victory of Eros, by Angelica Kauffman
bottom: extracted (cropped) from a photo by Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA
via Wikimedia Commons – Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, London
(Anteros, twin brother of – and often mistaken for – Eros)
rivrvlogr 
I like what you did here I think a sparse poem helps for me to fill in the blanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My kind of reader! Thank you.
LikeLike
WOW! Amazing writing, this is absolutely stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lucy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is like a series of short breaths, and it ends on a sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jane. I like that.
LikeLike
The three parts make a lovely gently winding poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As I edited I realized they form a progression.
LikeLike
They do 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is breathtakingly beautiful! ❤️ I admire how you have constructed the poem into three parts (which as a concept in itself is absolutely brilliant) and love the image; “urgency embraced emotions intertwined
/soul gazing into finding soul.” Thank you so much for writing to the prompt 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 🙂 I figured I could work with an older poem, but as I looked I realized one could lead to another.
And thank you for the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Artfully and beautifully written, Ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Three parts, but each part could stand alone. Beautiful wordsmithing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Beverly. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautifully intimate. I am going to have to admit, I read the third poem several times because the sensations were such a delight to imagine ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Romantic, sensual and loving — I adore the old-fashioned ambiance. Great word artistry and take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent reconstruction of old to new, three views, three perceptions is a big bite of Eros. I like the third one best
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Glen.
LikeLike
This is wonderful Ken. I liked the flow through the 3 sections. Well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rob.
LikeLike
Gentle and sensual, Ken, like afternoon delight. I didn’t know Eros had a brother??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa.
Plenty of photos of that statue are given as Eros, but as I did some digging I realized that was incorrect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anteros
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for teaching me something new today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate the thought process and the end result – 3 poems seamlessly flowing into each other. For me, the first one is a gem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Grace. I almost stopped there, but realized I had more to work as a sequence.
LikeLike
That sense of the tentative leads on, encouraging desire, beautifully understated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Paul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very welcome Ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the buildup that ends in a sigh of delight, for me… Delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It’s funny how a day or two can make a difference. I read it now and wonder if the second and last should be reversed. Either way, I’m happy with all three.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I could see them being reversed no problem but all three are each wonderful in their own way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of lovely assonance in these pieces – savouring every luscious line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Really neatly done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thank you.
LikeLike
This is a great collection. Very well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dwight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Artfully and beautifully written, Ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Betty. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person