Posts Tagged ‘Nature’
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
Tags:Nature, personal, poetry, spirituality
Posted in Nature, Personal, Poetry, Solitude, Spirituality | 2 Comments »
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
Tags:Nature, personal, poetry
Posted in Nature, Poetry, Solitude | 2 Comments »
July 24, 2013
A 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.
Tags:Nature, personal, poetry, serenity, writing
Posted in Homelife, Nature, Personal, Poetry, Solitude | 1 Comment »
June 3, 2013
—∞—
I’m thinking about the story
A man and a woman
And an apple
Was that a tale of our beginning
Or of our end?
—∞—
Down by the lake
On the shore
By the lake
Lies a pebble
One of millions, actually
Rounded
Smoothed
Deposited
By a glacier
Long, long ago
Where was it yesterday?
There or nearby?
Moved maybe
By a wind-blown wave
Or a passing boat’s wake
If it was moved
An irreversible change
To the entire universe
Took place
Tiny, but irreversible
What about us?
What are we doing?
How’s our piece,
Our allotted portion
Of the universe, doing?
Irreversible change
I’m thinking about sunlight
Stored sunlight, stored energy
As in an apple
As in coal, gas, oil
Why is the oil there?
The coal?
The gas?
Is it for us?
If so, to do what?
Are these tangible things,
These stored solar energies,
Here for our good?
Or are they the forbidden fruit
An apple … a poisoned apple
Perhaps that mythical tale
Two people and an apple
Is a story of our end, not of our beginning
A story about hubris and selfishness now
Rather than providing for those who follow
One bite or too many
Perhaps
An abdication of our stewardship?
Our misunderstanding of dominion?
A failure to faithfully respond?
© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:Energy conservation, Greenhouse effect, Nature, personal, poetry, Religion, Social Justice, Stewardship
Posted in Nature, Personal, Poetry, Religion, Social Justice | 2 Comments »
April 5, 2013
—∞—
O, waning crescent
Where are you heading?
The morning is clear, crisp
Dawn is breaking
You appear to be leaving
Won’t you stay to welcome the day?
In your fullness rising
Large
Golden
Warm
Romantic
You welcome our evenings
Your presence is everywhere
A sharp beam on a glassy lake
Silvery lamé on a wind-tossed sea
Hanging over a southbound river like a lantern
Climbing over a stadium wall during a game
Shining on an airplane’s wing
In your fullness
Your stay around all night
Making tree shadow patterns on the snow
Casting twig-laced squares on the bedroom floor
Flirting from behind the pines
As morning draws near
You startled me one night
In a canyon … in Utah
I was asleep
Under the stars
You suddenly peeked over the towering, sheer, red wall
Your desert brightness unrestrained. Remember?
But, for now, you are leaving
Each month you give us
A warm evening greeting
A chilly morning farewell
We know all about lunar cycles
But our ancient feelings prevail
© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:lunar cycle, moon, Nature, poetry
Posted in Nature, Poetry | 8 Comments »
February 27, 2013
–∞–
Snowmelt streaming softly
Water whispering quietly
Gutters guiding gently
Damp, chill air
Fills my nostrils
Rousing memories of childhood
Every rivulet
Invites a craft
Tiny, seaworthy
None can be seen
No Popsicle stick rafts
No bottle caps or paper boats
Foreign ports at street’s end
Magical destinations
Go unreached, unexplored
Many years ago
These elfin rivers
Brought me great joy
Every evening
Of irresistible thaws
Found trousers wet, feet soaked
Kitchen radiator
Topped with steaming shoes
Stuffed with newspaper
Peaceful, warm dinner
Outdoors grew colder
Another thaw awaited
© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:childhood, Nature, personal, poetry
Posted in Nature, Personal, Poetry | 2 Comments »
In a dim light... 