Awakenings

Cherry
Poem of the week

By Silver Spun Sand

Sun, 20 Oct 2013
  • 4969 reads
22 comments
 

 

In those fleeting, precious moments

before dusk gives way to dark

my mind goes back to an ancient,

Blüthner baby grand...a child, sitting

underneath, chasing the tail of a cat

that caught it before she did.

 

Watching the feet of her mother

as they moved, oh, so gently, up

and down; singing whilst she played

 a tinkling appassionato.

 

How I long to relive those days;

to be sitting around a table – set

for Mah Jong with its ‘four winds’

and its tiny, bamboo tablets, faced

in ivory. Sunday evenings in the parlour,

chestnuts roasting on the fire.  Yes,

really.  It doesn’t just happen

in Christmas songs, because we

really did, then. 

 

Father would come in after work

with the backdrop of the passage light...

his hair, matted on his temples,

with tales of who, when, what

happened on his bus that shift,

and his face lit with the satisfaction

of an honest day’s drudge achieved

to perfection.

 

The truly cherished things in life

are in the awakenings; jasmine –

blossoming – the reflection in

a lover’s eyes.  A lighthouse, its

beacon, beckoning, beckoning –

the skip of a child’s heart

at the school bell’s sounding.

 

That quick, catch of breath

when a sunburst rips open

a gunmetal sky; spring, summer,

autumn, winter...all seasons passing. 

And a time when everything went by

but time.

 

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by catherine poarch on

This is lovely. What  a concept, that the cherished moments are the awakenings. I think as a child I was aware of arrivals, living somewhere where people and ships were always coming and going. Maybe that's similar. A really interesting poem that, as usual with you, paints a scene.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks to you, catherine. 

I am so pleased that you, too, can identify with the thoughts in my poem.

Have a sunny Sunday;-) It's pouring cats and dogs here, though!

Tina

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

It's a little persistant here too! smiley

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Oh dear, so sorry to hear thatsad

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Apart from the wonderful way you have recounted the memories, I love the way the words eb and flow with the subtle rhymes and alliteration. Nice gentle piece, this.

Very peaceful, too.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Bee.  So very pleased you enjoyed. 

And speaking of 'peaceful',  I hope you are having a good Sunday, peaceful, or otherwise, of course;-)

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, Tina, my Sunday is very good peaceful and I hope yours is too.

Bee

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This poem put a smile on my face Tina.  I loved the fleeting glances of past memories and the way you gave it a story within the poem.  That last couple of lines is so true of childhood,  how time just seems to go so slowly, as if there is all the time in the world.  Beautifully written and a pleasure to read.  Jenny. 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I'm so glad I made you smile, Jenny...what with the awful weather and all we've been experiencing of late.  Even my ducks are looking a bit glum as their pond is about to overflow its bankssad. 

Many thanks for reading and for your lovely comment., and I hope the coming week is a good one for you, and hopefully, a dry onesmiley.

Tina

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Gosh, MissU, I know exactly what you mean about reading something and wishing like mad that one had written it oneself.  Really, really frustrating;-)

It made my day to know how you felt about this poem of mine, and chose to tell me in such a delightful and animated way.  May the coming week 'rock' for you;-)

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

'a sunburst rips open a gunmetal sky' (sounds as if you've been waiting for that from the comments above!) and 'his face lit with the satisfaction of an honest day’s drudge achieved to perfection' — these were very evocative. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you Rhiannon.  And as to the sunburst, I'm still waiting...as are the duckssmiley

Pleased you enjoyed this one, and I so appreciate you dropping by to let me know.

Tina

 

Submitted by a102866 on

You nicely mesh the mercurial, but perennial, tides of nature with the spontaneous, but common, actions in human lives. We nostalgically look back at the simple, innocent joys of our youth. It makes our fast-paced, complicated lives seem so unfulfilling. In the latter stages of our lives, we miss the little things that no longer seem so redundant or unimportant. A satisfying trip down memory lane. Enjoyed reminiscing with you!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks.  Good of you to read this, and to take the trouble to let me know you enjoyed;-)

Tina

 

Submitted by Luke Neima on

This is such an excellent poem! It really transported me - powerful images, fragrances, sounds. You had all my senses firing. Loved this.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Luke - thanks.  Very much. 

Tina

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Tina, I have ran out of superlatives to describe your constantly superb output. This is another string to your bow of excellence. Well done.

Luigi xxx

 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Good morning to you, Luigi;-)  And I trust you are well.

Speaking of bows, as you were, reminds me of my school days, and my efforts regarding a violin that somehow came into my possession.  'Drink to Me Only' was my party piece, and my renditition of it, totally unique;-)

So pleased you enjoyed my poem, and fortunately I don't have that violin anymore. It mysteriously disappeared one day, and I can't think why;-)

Tina xxx

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

A very evocative poem. I sometimes wish I was playing mah jongh, with the red and green dragons and the Wall, again with 3 then friends now in a different country,         Elsie

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you so much, elsie, for sharing your thoughts.  My kids were a whizz at the game, and for me, too, it brings back such evocative memories.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

My heart winced for lost nostalgia. It's your talent, Tina. Magnificent as ever.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Kind of you to say so, Vera.  Many thanks.

Tina