Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Nones


Mid-afternoon, autumn
     of the day
yearning for summer
     past

too warm yet, these
     cassocks too heavy
sweat trickles down
     the back, down
                the chest, down
     the forehead

turns into mist
     vapor of the presence

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

Photograph: Mid-Afternoon Mist, Whitelee Forest by AlexMacKinnon via Creative Commons.
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29 comments:

  1. Louise GallagherAugust 16, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    This poem evokes images of abstinence, penitence and faith.

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  2. MaureenAugust 16, 2011 at 7:46 AM

    Your "too warm yet," immediately followed by "these /cassocks too heavy" creates instant visual of the penitent and also, metaphorically, the sense of burdens carried.

    I like your use of canonical hours as titles of recent poems. They carry a lot of meaning.

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  3. Pat HattAugust 16, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    That pic is amazing, so much going on in it. A wonderful job describing it in your piece too, "vapor of presence" was my favorite line.

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  4. Brian MillerAugust 16, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    we are just vapors ourselves...seasons passing one to the other...cant wait for autumn to really get here...

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  5. AnonymousAugust 16, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    your words with the pic is perfection. Seasons of life pass so quickly...

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  6. BeachannyAugust 16, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Subtle in its symbolism, each word layered with meanings and each adding a different shade of color, of weight, of interplay. Excellent work.

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  7. Jannie FunsterAugust 16, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    I used to eat a lot of chocolate covered coconut treats made by monks in Quebec. This reminded me of the mystery of them.

    Always have LOVED the word cassock.

    Thanks for the mini trip.

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  8. steveroniAugust 16, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    I felt the perspire rolling down my back...etc. Have not worn a cassock for many MANY years--the sweat still rolls down. HA!

    I'd like to spend some time in a monastery, though, measured in days--not years--grin!

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  9. ClaudiaAugust 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    ah you make me long for autumn...beautiful pic as well...i like the turn into mist vapor of the presence..

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  10. Arron ShillingAugust 16, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    You really manage to open up the mind with a strong and assured apllication of well chosen words - the structure really aids the unfurling.

    A really interesting poem

    Arron

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  11. ayalaAugust 16, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    lovely...vapor of presence, my favorite line :)

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  12. Joanne Young ElliottAugust 16, 2011 at 3:32 PM

    Mystery of the mists. Nice.

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  13. AnonymousAugust 16, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    Strong voice leading us to wisdom, thank you.

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  14. S. EtoleAugust 16, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    walking in the mist through this ...

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  15. signed...bkmAugust 16, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    nice take on the last days of summer...still to warm...fading as vapor so soon...bkm

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  16. Maude LynnAugust 16, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Lovely write, Glynn.

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  17. AnonymousAugust 16, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    adventures
    of the nomad
    through
    tea time

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  18. ScarletAugust 16, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    like these lines:

    turns into mist
    vapor of the presence

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  19. Joseph HeschAugust 16, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    "These cassocks too heavy," is a line that latches onto my mind. Too many years being "taught" by brothers and too long being a literal and figurative altar boy. Love the poem, hate the memories.

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  20. AnonymousAugust 16, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Falls in the air. 50 this morning.

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  21. TashtooAugust 16, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    I never cease to be amazed at the imagery you manage to convey with just a choice selection of words. I feel the weight of the burden, the constraint...I thought this fantastic!

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  22. UnknownAugust 16, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    "autumn of the day" is such a great phrase. Enjoyed this much :)

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  23. UnknownAugust 16, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    Sounds like you were caught in Indian Summer Glynn, in my estimation the nicest time of the year, but one has to wear layers!
    Great verse.

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  24. Rosemary Nissen-WadeAugust 16, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Beutiful! And conveys so much so lightly.

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  25. The Zen of GavinAugust 17, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    This reminds me of my childhood with the mist of Ravenloft. Well done, I love short and sweet.

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  26. AnonymousAugust 17, 2011 at 4:36 PM

    Don't see too many cascade poems anymore but the structure is perfectly suited to your topic. Nice write!

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  27. PatriciaAugust 17, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    I hadn't thought of the name of those robes in forever...
    raised in the catholic church, between the cassocks and the nuns habits... I feared ever having to wear one... for fear of ever looking that mean and uncomfortable.

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  28. AnonymousAugust 18, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    Great line love it.

    turns into mist
    vapor of the presence

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  29. UnknownAugust 18, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    The form and your words quite delicate, really touching piece. ~ Rose

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