Love in art has always been a captivating subject for poets. When they look at a piece of art, they see more than just colors and shapes - they see a story unfolding before their eyes, inspired by the perspectives presented in the artwork, sparking their soul to the surface of their imagination, often intense and profound. Love in particular, evokes a myriad of feelings - joy, passion, longing and even heartache. On February 3, 2024, ILA Magazine provided 4 images for poets to choose from with a requirement to craft a poem or prose inspired by the art, choosing only one. What did they observe in their own perceptions? They were to describe their emotions in poetry/prose, forming an imagination from their own perspectives of the depicted characteristics from the images we personally created. From 27 entries, we chose 12 poets to be featured. ILA presents each poet's work under the respective art they chose to write about. "Would You" If I set out on the road of life
Would you walk it with me? If I make mistakes and fail
Would you still believe in me? If I confess about my flaws Would you smile with cheer? If I am little low or sick Would you cut off my fear? If I am lost in the dark Would you find me out? If I shriek like a child Would you join to shout? If gravity and thunder shakes me Would you hold my hands tight? If this cruel world abandons me Would you stand for my fight? © Rafiya Sayeed
Jammu and Kashmir, India "In the Valleys of Romance" In the valleys of romance with cupid's arrow, Where love songs echo in the soulful shadow Captivated by the scent of scattered Jasmine We dive into amorousness as our hearts entwine. Our hearts pulsate in a blissful rhythmic beat, Melodies of love echo, so melodious and sweet. Our souls align, and passionate feelings bloom, The perfume of our breaths dispels our gloom. An impulse pushes us to accept the sacred bond, On every joyful cadence, our heartbeats respond. Our hearts flutter when we embrace each other, In between shy moments, our lips softly whisper. Amidst the bewitching and alluring atmosphere, We look deeply into each other's eyes without interference. We get lost in the astonishing divine symphony, Wanting to cherish each moment with harmony. © Deepti Shakya India "Fervent Heart" Lovebirds hidden from the buzz Hearts beating wild like drums A passion of fire within the two Woven into a single big cocoon Cupids arrow hitting both of us Full of emotions that just pour Amid the pain of unseen eyes A resolute love tenderly shown Your fervent desire to kiss me Tickles my heart, body and soul © Gloria Magallanes-Loeb USA "Janpath Days 1986" Janpath market
checking shawls, Life effervescing then in a close-knit pashmina
I thought of words written on bargain threads not knowing breaths had sealed then An oddly different sky at a connaught place Middle Street we kissed Life flowed in each other quashed in the shawl within lips I asked of a river it had always escaped afternoon of repertoires of small talk in a Punjabi accent touching your tongue I saw a sun went hiding in our ancestral sharing eyes closed in pursuit we hurled in colors and stars of another momentary season. © Amitabh Mitra
East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa "Midnight Kiss" A feeling beyond the reach of imagination
so deep and paranormal to people's speculation sparkling sentient currents in the body wires sending pleasure into the innards and lire arresting all senses of emotional sentinel engilds my night with romantic tunnel. It is just you and I in this solemnity that keeps heart drunk in tranquility of emotional stupor that engulfed our night radiating and relishing comfort of lustrous bight. Our tongues twisting each other bringing our senses into a libidinous pother and out bodies fastened in amatorial candor bidding wave of by to all odds except our emotional splendor. Hold me tight to your soul licking my lips into a lovely bole like flames tonguing fire-pot to a tickle I insert my tongue into yours so prickle and we journey inside each other to sojourn in a bliss of love altogether. © Ikwulono Mohammed Senison Nigeria "Untitled" Amidst melancholy, doth his soul speak
Resonance that ripples, her soul t'weep For it remains within passion's embrace Care infinite eternal dwindle doth 'ncase It not matter, whether a path b'intended Adoration shared needin' no destination

It is, within those instances, tho', doleful A sense upon flesh, surruond, o', soulful A something that simply exists and just is Minus regret, forevermore, belongin', his His is an essence, presence, remarkable 'Pon wings, never misplaced, ever subtle For he resides within depths of her soul Undoubtedly sensed mid crevice and pore It is all there is, all there needs to be Sharing of two, amidst lands and seas. © Mena Sisto Canada "Saccharine" I heard the words of love you spoke
as you weighed flour and margarine, I wanted to believe those words but were they just saccharine? I licked your pink, frosted fingers You licked my cupcake lips, I think I had a sugar rush caught up in a sugar spun kiss. Something so homely and wholesome as we decorated sweet delights, I thought of you all day You were the rich marzipan of my nights. Buttercream daydreams then that proverbial bun in the oven... I saw you licking her fondant fingers You had to have your cake and eat it... In fact, you'd bedded a baker's dozen! © Rhiannon Owens UK "Let Us Stay Right in Love" Under spread of umbrella, let's both of us stand, far from crowds and unpeopled silent scene of a lane where breeze resonates sweet melody of our love jot, where leaves dance in tandem, in the merriment accord. Only two hearts and none to block the free strike in range, peeping into the hearts thru eyes with uninterrupted gaze. Exchanging warmth by being close with no bar site, Yes, my love, let's appease in fair, the love term in light. Let's hug by dearie tie, tightening tie by warmth of love, deluge of delight may surpass the acre of realm thereof. My sweetheart, let us not query rather merge in track, forgetting outer cult of scene and dotting in show, unchecked. © Shiv Raj Pradhan India "Untitled" When it started to rain on this summer day, she heaved a sigh of relief, she knew the rain would sweep all the anguish that was between them and it could give a new start; she had chosen a short black dress as light as a summer breeze and as attractive as the lover's eyes; she also decided to put a pair of high heels, so she could reach him for a hug and tuck all the moments of absence in her heart. She began tiptoeing on a wet road, the sky was gleaming as if washed by the generous clouds, and the street was empty, he said he would wait for her not far from the oak tree the way they used to do when they were schoolmates. She started listening to her heartbeats as she saw him holding an umbrella, wearing a black suit as if preparing for the dance under the rain. He greeted her with a wide smile, he did not want to say anything, he raised the umbrella and mutely covered her hair and then looked at her, when he felt that she seemed a bit feverish, he rushed to touch her lips with a healing deep kiss that would write all the memorable stories of love. © Sihem Cherif Tunisia "Soaking in Love" Last night when it was raining, it was as if it were your tears - splashing through the old sills of trust, and sousing down that diary of frustration - - that had words less, but silence more, and ink less, but tears more - buried! Last night when it was raining the past honked onto my vision, and I left myself and rode to the old heart, and I can see us soaking in love again. And... And The rain never stops and keeps us hearted under the single umbrella of love - - holding us in one soul. As we had crossed the deserts of separation through spans beating the talks in our hearts only, and uttering only sighs and sobs But we keep saying, may the rain never stop now, as I can see us soaking in love again. Yes, we had crossed the seas, too, and sailed on the withered yacht of hope, but that sour thirst burnt us in aches, and the taste was never quenched...until This rain tasted like an April romance, and we can see us soaking in love again. The storms avenge... so do my hopes and I wake up like the withered rose - eyeing for the lovely morning again... © Eshfaq Majeed Pampur, Jammu & Kashmir, India "The Rain" I do not know why, but I love the sound of rain while it is falling on a hot asphalt. It is always different, as if choosing the way to the heart, and the green leaves in the treetops, are rustling with happiness. I do not know why, but I love the touch of its drops,
falling out of order, onto the petals of poppy flowers. I love when under the eaves, a bird is waiting, distracted by the dream... ...as luck would. I don't know why, but I like mild rain, flowing down the body, flooding with heat. I love you, the traces of your hands, filled with love, and grace, disturbing the silence... I love the rain, I love her when we are together, when the views speak for themselves, I love when drops... ...leave the messages around as the bodies sway, in the hug... ...The heart is searching for, Answers you seek. Snežana Šolkotovic Serbia "Even in the Heavens" Even the heavens with a heavy heart with tears gently flowing from its bosom cannot hinder two creatures in love to show the world what it takes to invest one's emotions in another with bodies quivering in the rain The feelings do not feel the restraint of how hard it is to ensnare teh warmth in a quick embrace to be savored at the very moment when words are futile when even a grasp for breath is precious for two souls enslaved in a love that is never meant to be for they have lost that very chance before in the past...when the world is at a standstill and the captive audience of a young love meant to last in the arms of other creatures But then, even the heavens are helpless to separate thirsty souls out to drink that fleeting drink from the rains. No, even the heavens are inept when even the hearts weep. Rosemarie Miranda Philippines