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.

29 comments:

Louise Gallagher said...

This poem evokes images of abstinence, penitence and faith.

Maureen said...

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.

Pat Hatt said...

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.

Brian Miller said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Beachanny said...

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

Jannie Funster said...

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.

steveroni said...

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!

Claudia said...

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

Arron Shilling said...

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

ayala said...

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

Joanne Young Elliott said...

Mystery of the mists. Nice.

Anonymous said...

Strong voice leading us to wisdom, thank you.

S. Etole said...

walking in the mist through this ...

signed...bkm said...

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

Maude Lynn said...

Lovely write, Glynn.

Anonymous said...

adventures
of the nomad
through
tea time

Scarlet said...

like these lines:

turns into mist
vapor of the presence

Joseph Hesch said...

"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.

Anonymous said...

Falls in the air. 50 this morning.

Tashtoo said...

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!

Unknown said...

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

Unknown said...

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.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Beutiful! And conveys so much so lightly.

The Zen of Gavin said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Patricia said...

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.

Anonymous said...

Great line love it.

turns into mist
vapor of the presence

Unknown said...

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