Tuesday, May 28, 2024

The Sounds of Home


Wickaninnish in blue


The sounds of home will echo within me
always: rain pelting through the mountain pass,
the swish-swish-swish of the windshield wipers,
the joy of heading home - home!
the very word
a welcoming smile inside.

It's the sound of waves coming in like jet planes
at South Beach in winter storm,
the piercing keen of an eagle's cry,
the bossy caw of the town's crows
begging for scraps outside the CoOp.

It's the scold of a Stellar jay on the deck,
as Mozart wafts through the open window,
the comforting whoosh of the fire
crackling to life in the woodstove,
the putt-putt-putt of boat engines
pulling up to First Street dock.
It's the bell tinkling on the door
of the Common Loaf
as you go in out of the rain,
local faces upturned to greet you,
rain gear sloughed off and steaming.

It's the mooing of the foghorn at Lennard Light,
sounding all night long through the eerie, drifting fog.
And in the morning it's the silence
that lets you know the power is out,
no humming appliances to muffle 
the sound of perfect peace.

Home - the sound of my beloved waves,
forever advancing and retreating
in my heart.

for Mary's prompt at https://newwhatsgoingon.blogspot.com/      SOUNDS.

So many wonderful sounds here on the wild West Coast of Canada. I could go on and on.

12 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading this poem about all of the sounds in your world, both in nature and not, Sherry. I especially liked 'the piercing keen of an eagle's cry' and 'the scold of a stellar jay on the deck.' And then there is 'the bell tinkling on the jar of the Common Loaf." A very sense-ual poem!

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  2. ". . . the joy of heading home - home!
    the very word
    a triumphant smile inside."
    How I love the busyness of your sounds of home. And then there is the familiar silence of loss of power. This is an emphasis on the positive and near and dear, so helpful to calm the anxiety of the news. Bravo!

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  3. I love how you have captured the sounds of home - the best place in the world to be surrounded by so many magical sounds and feelings..I am glad you are happy to be there - Jae

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  4. The whole poem is beautifully peaceful with all its sounds and visuals. "the piercing keen of an eagle's cry, / the bossy caw of the town's crows" speak of a vibrant life so out of the world.

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  5. The sound of perfect peace - love this and the images that you have given. Especially the "Foghorn" . Well done.

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  6. Natural sounds are wonderful, and the sounds of home are best, I think, Sherry. I love the onomatopoeia and other sounds in your poem, and I pictured your town as I read, listening to the strains of Mozart and ‘the putt-putt-putt of boat engines pulling up to the dock’. The tinkling bell made me want to visit the Common Loaf.

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  7. Beautiful, Sherry! You've caught this place and its ambience perfectly.

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  8. I very much enjoyed your wet poem! Rain and waves...home.

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  9. Your home is beautiful.Lovely sounds.

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  10. Oh Sherry - this poem is forgive the pun - but it is true - saturated with sound - dripping with sound - sparkling with sound and the sea - oh the sea ... Quite brilliant

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  11. So many wonderful sounds Sherry and I love the idea of the sounds of home echoing within you! Truly beautiful my friend!

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  12. Each sound you iterate falls crisply on my ear and brings me right into the sea squall and fireside of your world, Sherry. How beautifully you awaken our senses, how lovingly, and the latter emotion colors it in a glow that captivates and welcomes! A wonder and delight to read.

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