Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Compline



The shadows of the waning day gather
around my feet like an ebony cat, warm
and detached. It is done, this day, locked
in an enameled matchbox of memory.

This moment, this speck of infinity
before I become dreamless rest,
is but a part of the ordered day, a day
like all days, ordered and ordained.

A day begun with prayer must needs
end with prayer, another line of song,
another hymn, another cry of joy,
whispered praise in the chorus of creation.

This poem is submitted to Open Mike Night at dVerse Poets. To see more poems, please visit the site. The links will be live at 2 p.m. Central time today.

Photograph: Moon by Daniele Pellati via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

at

35 comments:

  1. MaureenAugust 30, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    "The shadows of the waning day gather/around my feet like an ebony cat": lovely, Glynn. A vivid image. I also like very much "enameled matchbox", which combines a sense of the ornate (the miraculousness of the day) and the very small ("this speck of infinity" you'll keep boxed).

    That invocation, the image of the moon, the color of your background all work to impose a silence, as that "chorus of creation" completes its song.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian MillerAugust 30, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    lovely, the night like a cat...great start...and what a way to end (and begin) the day as well...it puts it into perspective you know...some great touches here glynn

    ReplyDelete
  3. S. EtoleAugust 30, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    It's a very peaceful way to end the day ... immersed in truth.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    prayer, lost without it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ayalaAugust 30, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    peaceful and lovely !

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    Tranquil, really fond of the delicate imagery used...particularly enjoyed "enameled matchbox of memory." ~ Beautiful write ~ Rose

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pat HattAugust 30, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Had me at ebony cat, wonderful start to the piece and just flowed great to the end, truly is a chorus of creation in and of itself.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    loved the ebony cat metaphor... a great piece!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Uneven StephenAugust 30, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Beautiful poem. I just love the line: "It is done, this day, locked
    in an enameled matchbox of memory."

    ReplyDelete
  10. mrs mediocrityAugust 30, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    really beautiful, love the last line, love the image of all of this an enameled matchbox.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jannie FunsterAugust 30, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    The chorus of creation -- how sweet.

    And I'd love to have a matchbox, enameled. I suppose at one time they we re all enameled. And probably would fetch pretty penny today!

    A lovely little write to tuck into my pocket today -- thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ClaudiaAugust 30, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    whispering in the chorus of creation...love this glynn..also the cat, warm, detached....the locked in matchbox memory...really enjoyed the read

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    silence
    throughout night
    as the last
    becomes first

    ReplyDelete
  14. steveroniAugust 30, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    Yup. ME--for that whispered praise in the chorus of creation...which is ongoing through invented time. Tight, and well written A Pleasure to read and think about!

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    i would like to hear it read.
    oooh, it would be beautiful read by mDoallas.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    Love your open lines. What an encouraging read.

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    the ebony cat... this speck of infinity...

    beautiful.

    ~
    deb

    ReplyDelete
  18. The Zen of GavinAugust 30, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    The shadows of the waning day gather
    around my feet like an ebony cat, warm

    Oh yes I can feel it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    Well done. Cat and detachment/Speck of infinity and ordered/ Prayer-beginning and end. Love the way you structured this piece and how each part played so well together.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Valerie KamikuboAugust 30, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    "ordered and ordained"... I like that. Compline is my favorite of the daily offices. Thanks for the poem, Glynn.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dulçe ♥August 30, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    a day
    like all days, ordered and ordained.

    Sad, but amazing poem, Glyn

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ann LeFloreAugust 30, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    Nice way to end the day

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    I loved it, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  24. LindaAugust 30, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    You are such a gifted writer Glynn! Your poems just get better and better. I love the beginning - perfect word picture.

    ReplyDelete
  25. ✿August 30, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    "gather around my feet like an ebony cat" ... I love this!

    ReplyDelete
  26. ✿August 30, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    You can read mine at safehousepoetry.wordpress.com if you'd like.

    ReplyDelete
  27. JofIndiaAugust 30, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    The stunning images you conjure up, so gently harnessed to the liturgy's ancient structures, nicely reflect its "unchanging but ever-new" call to prayer.
    Beautifully captured, Glynn, a very fitting end to the series.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Joseph HeschAugust 30, 2011 at 9:51 PM

    I'll return to this piece again, Glynn. The images of the dark day's end are haunting, but bookending them with joyful worship keeps the darkness at bay. Beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Louise GallagherAugust 30, 2011 at 9:51 PM

    Sigh. Your words make my spirit sing, my soul weep for joy.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. PatriciaAugust 30, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    well, you've sent me to dictionary.com more than anyone else. "Compline" =) and all the other words for the hours of the day.
    I appreciate that you are a teacher and a learner. This series has been beautifully written. I come away with "whispered praise in the chorus of creation."

    ReplyDelete
  31. Rosemary Nissen-WadeAugust 30, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Peaceful and musical. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Duane ScottAugust 31, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    one of the best you've written, mr. glynn

    ReplyDelete
  33. LauraAugust 31, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    "It is done, this day, locked
    in an enameled matchbox of memory." beautiful line...sometimes it is hard to wrap up a day and let it just be with out opening up the box again and again.

    ReplyDelete
  34. signed...bkmAugust 31, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    I love that ebony cat around you feet...warm and reflective....beautiful way to view and be thankful for the day...bkm

    ReplyDelete
  35. EvelynSeptember 1, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    "The shadows of the waning day gather
    around my feet like an ebony cat, warm
    and detached"
    aw man, this is a great line, jealous, wish I wrote it.
    :)

    ReplyDelete