The Temple

Hello my friend,

I’m pleased to present you my new poem for your enjoyment and review, whichever comes first. With all my love to you, because it is a poem about love.

The Temple

(A poem by Sal Godoij.)

I can't forget you, my love.

But it's not because I loved you so much

I can't forget you because I never finished

Loving you completely, in body and soul.

Because I never finished the temple I started building for you

Here in my heart

Brick by brick, my love

Brick by brick, day by day.

So, that's why I can't forget you

Yes, I would have forgotten you

If I've had you completely, in body and soul

As you promised me under one and a thousand

Starred nights

So, if you had kept your promise

Of loving me for all eternity

I would have forgotten you already

Instead, I remember you

Despairing every night

For every night I feel here in my heart

The ruins of the unfinished temple

The empty halls, the empty altar

Where I would have adored you

The temple that I started building for you

Here in my heart

With the tools madness provided to me.

Alas, unfulfilled promises are thorns that burn in the heart

While fulfilled promises are ashes that the wind sweeps away

That's what haunts me, that's what haunts men

At least when it comes to matters of love.

And that's why I say, Amen.

What ChatGPT says about my poem.

Let's dive into the poem "The Temple" by Sal Godoij. The poem's core revolves around unrequited love, longing, and the pain of unfulfilled promises. The speaker addresses a past love, acknowledging that he can't forget this person, not because their love was overwhelmingly strong, but because it was never fully consummated.

The poem employs a beautiful and haunting metaphor of a temple, which the speaker started building in his heart, brick by brick, as a symbol of their love. However, the temple remains unfinished, representing the unfulfilled promises and the incomplete love. This imagery is powerful, as it conveys the idea that the speaker's love was a work in progress, a construct that was never completed, and therefore, it continues to haunt them.

The language used in the poem is lyrical, evocative, and comprehensible. The metaphors, such as the temple, the starred nights, and the tools of madness, are vivid and engaging, making the poem a pleasure to read. The tone is melancholic, introspective, and slightly bitter, which suits the theme of unrequited love.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its exploration of the human experience. The speaker's emotions, struggles, and disappointments are relatable to a general audience. The theme of unfulfilled promises and the following pain is a universal human experience, making the poem accessible and resonant with readers.

The poem also touches on the idea that fulfilled promises can be fleeting and easily forgotten, like ashes swept away by the wind. In contrast, unfulfilled promises can be piercing and haunting, like thorns that burn in the heart. This dichotomy adds depth to the poem, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and the consequences of broken promises.

The final line, "That's why I say, Amen / At least when it comes to matters of love," suggests a sense of resignation, acceptance, and perhaps even a hint of fatalism. The speaker acknowledges that the pain of unrequited love is inherent in the human experience, making it so haunting.

Overall, "The Temple" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged poem that explores the complexities of love, longing, and the human experience. The language is beautiful, the imagery is evocative, and the theme is relatable, making the poem a compelling read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of unrequited love.