This light pushes through clouded glass,
a fading of visions. The sun has passed fiery red,
birds settle for the night, only the owl
begins his evensong. The leaves still on the trees
have lost their color and begin to stir.
The children called from their play
pedal bicycles home. The table set for the evening meal
and the dog fed. Now is the time
of the clock's unwinding. The son tells the father
of the weekend scout jamboree.
The daughter shares the sleep-over invitation.
The mother asks about homework and the father
lets the weight of the day slip
from his shoulders, considers how bright
these stars will shine.
The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Michelle Barnes today on her blog Today's Little Ditty. She also has a fun poetry challenge going for this month suggested by Nikki Grimes. Thanks for hosting us, Michelle.
Love the lines about the clock's unwinding and letting the weight of the day slip from Dad's shoulders. Great images! Thanks, Joy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, the images in this poem were fun to build.
DeleteEvocative and atmospheric. I can just feel the clock's unwinding. I like how you've pulled the reader into this family's life with your telling details.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama. The voice of this one is something different I was trying. I liked the light pushing through clouded glass.
DeleteI may just read this again tonight to help with the unwinding process. It has such a relaxing quality to it!
ReplyDeleteHey Donna,
DeleteNothing makes a poet's heart sing more than someone saying they want to read your poem a second time. Thank you oodles.
What a gorgeous poem, Joy! I especially liked the sense of magical realism you've evoked with: "Now is the time/of the clock's unwinding" and "the father/lets the weight of the day slip/from his shoulders, considers how bright/these stars will shine.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. Thanks for hosting us this week and serving up a five word challenge. Thanks for taking the time to read and understand my poem.
DeleteI agree with Donna about the unwinding quality in your words and images. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteYour kind words mean a lot to me. Thank you.
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