Occasionally, in my daily readings, a phrase or quote catches my eye and lodges itself in my thoughts for many days.
“No matter what happens, be gentle with yourself.” – St. Jeanne de Chantal
Archive for the ‘Solitude’ Category
A Meditation Remnant
August 18, 2013Apophatic Morning Stillness
August 15, 2013—∞—
In the screen house Under the trees Overlooking the lake An hour before sunrise How does one describe A stillness so complete The tiniest leaf In motionless silhouette Against water Tinged blue, pinkish-peach Hopeful, tranquil Waiting Stillness, but not silence A loon’s plaintive call Hum of car tires on a road Hidden deep in the hills across the lake Circular liquid remnant Far from shore Unnoticed, unheard Fish breaking the surface Chilled Time to go into the cabin Grateful, blessed, a gift Daybreak© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
A Small Signal From the Wood’s Edge
August 4, 2013—∞—
Even on a sunny day It’s dark at the lawn’s edge Where the undergrowth begins At the foot of the hill The edge of the woods A small signal of some kind Flashes from that shadowy realm What could it be? Horton isn’t here to interpret Or explain tiny messages What could it be? My mind goes racing Imagination fills To overflowing What reason would reject A tiny village is there A candle in the window The cell window of a monk Working by candlelight Transcribing, copying, praying Sun glints off blades As skaters Circle a frozen pond On a crisp Late afternoon A damsel In a castle keep Her mirror Signaling Her lover Approaching I found a fragment The least bit of a leaf On a silken thread Moving in the breeze© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
Nowhere To Be Found
July 24, 2013A sleepy afternoon in the north woods. If my muse came along, she is nowhere to be found. But I shall make the best of it and settle down with Team of Rivals.
Alone Again Naturally
July 19, 2013Yesterday we visited the remaining spouse of a couple we have known for 49 years. She is now a widow of ten days.
As we talked, I was reminded of the lyrics of the song by Gilbert O’Sullivan, “Alone Again Naturally”:
Couldn’t understand Why the only man She had ever loved Had been takenI Saw Her Coming
June 29, 2013—∞—
About one block Into my morning run My moment of solitude Listening to birds Feeling the rain Leftover rain Last night’s rain Peering over Leaves’ edges Before completing Their journey Plunging to the pavement Below I saw her coming A half block away Do you ever feel like Not talking? I mean really Not talking? Maybe I could Commence my running Pick up my pace Smile and wave Hurry on by Anyway, I stopped In the sun I stopped Foolishly In the burning-through- Humid-morning-air Hot sun I stopped We talked And we talked We talked About her son Normally with her A man with a disability Developmental He is her constant companion Except When he is in daycare A respite For her A break For her Relief from his 35 years For her So she walks And she talks If one stops For her
© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
In a dim light... 