I’ve always thought the best poems were the ones that painted a scene of something witnessed; a lazy crescent moon, a beautiful sunset, a child playing. I wrote this one morning when we were living in a beautiful little community called Spicewood Beach on Lake Travis. Living out there was one of the best times of my life; this poem should give you an inkling why.
Morning Mist
The trees stood eerily still
In a thin unmoving mist
A lone bird chirped slow and steady
The wind chimes made not a sound
In the yard across the way
A ceramic donkey posed
Ears erect and alert
Listening to morning’s approach
A cat, one of the neighbor’s herd
Padded softly across the street
The dog watched, eager to chase
But alas, the fence would not allow
She came to the chair where I sat
And offered her head for petting
I praised her and stroked cool fur
Then watched her bound happily away
Sudden sunlight slipped the misty veil
And the day all at once was there
A sip of coffee, then into my den
To pen what I had seen
Copyright © 2006 C. Mashburn
Sharing this with dVerse Poets Pub’s Open Link Night ~ Week 37
terri0729 said
Sweetly serene, Charlie!! I really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Terri! I appreciate your nice comment!
Sherry Mashburn said
Those were wonderful mornings . . . sitting out on the front porch, sipping coffee and watching the neighborhood come awake.
charlesmashburn said
Awesome memories!
Kharma said
Love this detailed description. Bet a picture could not have been better. Great words! Inspiring…..to escape work!
charlesmashburn said
It is so rewarding to sit and enjoy something like this, then to be able to put into words what you observed!
Thank you very much for visiting and commenting!
Becky said
Oh I love mornings like this.
They make the whole day wonderful!
charlesmashburn said
Yes! These are those moments when we truly stop and smell the roses!
Thanks for the visit and comment, Becky!
yelena said
..and you’ve painted a scene perfectly here..so soothing for the mind and heart your poem is. thank you for the mood 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the wonderful comment, Yelena!
Kellie Elmore said
a perfect display of laziness lol =) No, I love the laid back, lazy feel to it. You did a fine job!
charlesmashburn said
Well! I NEVAH! Thanks… I think!
Cindee Snider Re said
A moment, ordinary, noticed, observed, and woven beautifully into poetry. I enjoyed this!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Cindee!
AudreyHowitt (@AudreyHowitt) said
What a wonderful capture of a moment in time–Lovely write!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Audrey! I appreciate the visit and comment.
Zouxzoux said
I love a poem that takes me to the writer’s world and you’ve done that beautifully. I really enjoyed it!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much for visiting my world and leaving the nice comment!
brian miller said
smiles…great capture of that early morning moment charles…it is serene to me and something that acts out in my life often…sweet little bit with the cat….many of which who love indiscriminantly…and maybe int aht there is something we can learn…smiles…
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the great comment, Brian. I always appreciate your visits and kind words!
henryclemmons said
Isn’t that how it works sometimes. I’ve written many a poem note just like that. Very nice!!
charlesmashburn said
Yes, it is. Thanks for the visit and comment, Henry!
tashtoo said
Would you mind if I sat with you for just a moment longer before you leave to pen your write? I have been in desperate need of just such a moment for so long now…simply a wonderful share, Charles! Thank you 🙂
charlesmashburn said
I think we have to sieze those moments. Too many times, we don’t allow ourselves the time to appreciate the wonderful, ordinary things in our lives.
Thanks for the visit and sweet comment!
gardenlilie said
Like that idea of just immediately producing.
charlesmashburn said
It’s a wonderful thing when it happens.
Thanks for the visit and comment!
Mary said
It definitely is a wonderful feeling with something happens in front of your eyes that you KNOW is the stuff of poetry. I enjoyed your poetic reflections on the process!
charlesmashburn said
Yes, it certainly is!
Thanks for the visit and nice comment, Mary!
Gay Reiser Cannon said
Paradise is just before dawn in the neighborhood with the animals and the lawns and the trees. What is sweeter? Well penned, sir.
charlesmashburn said
You know it is, and nothing is sweeter! Thank you very much for the visit and comment, Gay!
Jody Collins said
“Sudden sunlight slipped the misty veil
And the day all at once was there”
Charles, I’m a sucker for alliteration…and I really like the picture of the day arriving all at once. You captured this perfectly.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the awesome comment, Jody! I appreciate it very much!
Wander said
I like your ability to tell a very clean and crisp story in a poem…very good write!
Wander
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much! I’m glad you like it!
Emma said
What a wonderful moment to travel to, Charles. You’ve offered such vivid, inviting details here…truly delightful to read.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Emma! I very much appreciate your visit and wonderful comment!
Shawna said
“Sudden sunlight slipped the misty veil
And the day all at once was there
A sip of coffee, then into my den
To pen what I had seen”
The ending is really just the beginning.
charlesmashburn said
So true, Shawna. I love it when that happens!
Thank you very much for the visit and comment!
pandamoniumcat said
Very nice, there must be something about morning mists eh! 🙂
charlesmashburn said
There was a morning mist when I walked the dog this morning! How special is that?!?!
Thanks for the visit and comment, Dianne!
ManicDdaily said
Very nice. I especially like the donkey’s erect ears! K.
charlesmashburn said
Yes! The memory of that little attentive guy is sharp in my mind; we saw him every morning we sat on the front porch during those ten years. He’s moved since we left.
ManicDdaily said
Listening hard—k.
(continuing.)
charlesmashburn said
Yes! Thanks for the visit and comments, Karin!
Abby Kelly said
I love this poem. I learn so much about being still watching my dog and cats!
http://www.predatory-lies.com
charlesmashburn said
I know! My dog is still way more than she’s moving! She’s old too, and I have to go look real close sometimes to make sure she’s breathing! I hate that!
Thanks for the visit and comment, Abby!
jove said
I like the way you captured those moments in the morning that feel slow or still and then subtly bring us to that moment where the stillness turns to action.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Jeanne! I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your visit and comment!
Hema said
Aww..you unfurled the morning so beautifully! Nice poem!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the visit and lovely comment, Hema!
Tally said
Wonderful how the little things can complete the perfect morning, well said:)
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Tally!