Submerged in a milk-bath of bliss
a mind reflects -as thoughts emergeUnmoving as the long since dead
unstirred and unruffled -as thoughts emergeClarity of vision as mirrored images flash past
unhurried kaleidoscope -as thoughts emergeMayhap life will end with the kiss of an asp
unfearing steady pulse -as thoughts emergeA decision is made in Cleopatra’s blue veins
royalty submerged -as thoughts emerge
©Vivian Zems
(#Ghazal)
Image by Andrea Torres
The ancient sources, particularly the Roman ones, are in general agreement that Cleopatra killed herself, at age 39, by inducing an asp (Egyptian cobra) to bite her. The oldest source is Strabo, who was alive at the time of the event and might even have been in Alexandria. Source
Smell The Coffee 
January 30, 2018 at 8:19 pm
Oh… I do wonder how you ever come to that conclusion… but I guess she had time to reflect…
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January 30, 2018 at 11:36 pm
I figure that if I’d decided on death by snake… I might want to reflect on life first for a bit before proceeding….no?
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January 30, 2018 at 8:36 pm
Poor Cleopatra. A much stronger character than Antony in the end.
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January 30, 2018 at 11:37 pm
A tragedy all round.
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January 31, 2018 at 10:46 am
One of Shakespeare’s best though 🙂
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January 31, 2018 at 11:40 pm
True!
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February 1, 2018 at 9:30 am
🙂
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January 30, 2018 at 8:37 pm
Wow
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January 30, 2018 at 11:43 pm
🙂
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January 30, 2018 at 10:53 pm
So much beautiful word-bump in this. Love this Cleo pondering.
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January 30, 2018 at 11:38 pm
I’ve been reading on her lately… so thought to add it . Thanks 🙂
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January 30, 2018 at 10:59 pm
I like the repetition of emerging thoughts.
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January 30, 2018 at 11:38 pm
Thanks, Frank…the beauty of the Ghazal!
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January 30, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Gosh, I’ve seen the old movie so many times. Your verse echoes the mood of Elizabeth Taylor after Richard Burton’s defeat, and her final resignation to the kiss of the asp.
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January 30, 2018 at 11:40 pm
The account I read was that Antony killed himself when he thought/learned that Cleopatra was dead…. very Romeo/Julia- esque
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January 31, 2018 at 12:42 am
wow
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January 31, 2018 at 12:43 am
Thank you 🙂
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January 31, 2018 at 1:35 am
I like the mikl bath of bliss and unhurried kaleidoscope –
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January 31, 2018 at 9:55 am
Thanks Candy!
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January 31, 2018 at 2:05 am
An interesting history lesson… Royalty submerged as thoughts emerge.
Dwight
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January 31, 2018 at 9:55 am
I’ll be setting the exam at the end of the year!😊 (thanks😆)
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January 31, 2018 at 2:05 pm
I was never too great at exams!!
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January 31, 2018 at 11:39 pm
Lol!
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January 31, 2018 at 7:59 pm
An intriguing form and character…contemplative and tragic.
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January 31, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Yes…thanks, Lynn 🙂
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January 31, 2018 at 9:26 pm
An interesting take on the prompt. I imagine she would have reflected on her choice.
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January 31, 2018 at 11:25 pm
She must have done…. still bizarre!
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February 1, 2018 at 12:37 am
Yes. It has always seemed like a strange way to commit suicide to me–but I guess it’s memorable, and perhaps she wanted that.
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February 1, 2018 at 4:32 am
🙂
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February 2, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Great play on words and wonderful poem!
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February 4, 2018 at 11:03 am
Thank you! 🙂
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February 3, 2018 at 6:31 pm
An iconic ghazal, in which you capture the essence of Cleopatra’s tragedy! Wonderful!
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February 3, 2018 at 10:39 pm
Thank you !
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February 3, 2018 at 10:58 pm
😇
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