Baby Leo and Graham
R.I.P.
Small puff-clouds
scoot across
the autumn sky
on the wings
of the morning.
I cross the road
to the rooster's
early cry.
From the sleepy forest
birds croak and caw,
the branches
stir and sigh.
The yard dogs bark
the new day in.
Horses whicker softly
over their apples and grain,
and the imperious marmalade cat
deigns a haughty nod
from his domain.
And I
am old enough
to be grateful for
such grace:
eyesight with which
to take this splendor in
the whole day long,
ears finely tuned
to hear
the planet's song,
legs that still carry me
though at a slower pace,
and that calm
voyager heart
that has
taken me
so far
while staying
in one place.
This poem is from 2010, when I was still living in my small trailer out Beaver Creek. I am sharing it in the Poetry Pantry at Poets United, where there is always fine reading on a Sunday morning.
Ah, you do have that voyager heart, Sherry. What you have not been able to travel to personally, you found ways to travel to in alternate ways. There are many different kinds of journeys, and indeed we must be grateful for the one we are personally on!
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem. I like the form, the rhymes, the content ... and of course the accompanying photo of the handsome cat. :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely moment kept alive through the heart of a poet
ReplyDeleteI love the peace, contentment and grace coming from every word. Beautiful Sherry.
ReplyDeleteAnd fine reading this is too - I hear the gratitude and wonder.. I am glad you convey the beauty of everyday to us
ReplyDeletesuch gentle vistas demand a prayer of gratitude..beautifully said.l
ReplyDeleteWow, Sherry. One of my favourites, for sure.
ReplyDeleteFrom the sleepy forest
birds croak and caw,
the branches
stir and sigh......so descriptive.
this brings a wonderful peaceful feeling! well written as always :)
ReplyDeleteSigh.. such beautiful sense of peace and tranquility flows through this poem, Sherry!❤️
ReplyDeleteWhat quiet contentment there is in this poem Sherry. How important it is to appreciate the world we are part of.
ReplyDeleteThis is so balanced, full hearted poem, gratitude and fulfillment, open eyes to see and appreciate, just makes me happy to read. Peace.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful gathering of the sights and sounds of the near world. Each one of these particular images contributes in some way to the idea of the universal. And thank goodness we can still find our way to them and through them.
ReplyDeleteI do believe you hear the planet's song it speaks to you in profound way as you sing along.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent poem full of imagery and meaning. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is exquisite, Sherry.
ReplyDeletelegs that still carry me
ReplyDeletethough at a slower pace
Old age perhaps will make one a little appreciative of the surroundings
Hank
Ah like a soft day these poem unfolds upon me....
ReplyDelete'And I
am old enough
to be grateful for
such grace'
Gratitude and grace are inseparable and necessary for our soulful happiness!
Beautiful! Miss you.
ReplyDeleteZQ
I love the pic and the poem is wonderfu!!!
ReplyDeleteLuv that wise contented ear
ReplyDelete"ears finely tuned
to hear
the planet's song,"
Happy Sunday Sherry
Much love...
"And I am old enough to be grateful for
ReplyDeletesuch grace"...It does indeed take older eyes to see this grace and beauty, whether old in body or in soul. I love the pic of the handsome ginger boy and the horse. Such friendship! This made me feel peaceful and happy today, reading this. Thank you.
I feel the grace in every word. Beautiful, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way, Sherry. Nature means more to me with every year that passes. Hope it's not too late for our planet.
ReplyDeleteSo much for which to be grateful, most of all the ability to mentally travel far while staying in place. Ah, it's good to be a dreamer ... and good to appreciate that which is within our realm.
ReplyDeleteLovely touches in this, that really lift the piece far from the somewhat ordinary 'slice of life' that a less regardful passersby might miss. 'branches
ReplyDeletestir and sigh' ...'imperious marmalade cat' ... 'the planet's song' ~ lovely melodious images and phrasing ~ and the close:
'and that calm
voyager heart
that has
taken me
so far
while staying
in one place'
so epically beautiful and moving, as to be the stuff of words that brings a tear.
To be able to appreciate what you have as a precious gift is a wonderful state of being.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of staying in one place, but voyaging far and wide through one's adventurous heart.
ReplyDelete