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Morning


I am barely squeaking this one in…SmallWorld’s Spring Poetry Contest. Ends April 10, which as I write, West Coast Time, is over in 6 minutes.

This poem is called Morning, which I liken to Spring. If you take the stages of a day, then morning would be spring in my calendar of thinking. This poem was written by my mom many years ago, I’m not sure how many, but at least 30.

MORNING

It cometh not with observation,
It cometh from afar,
Like bells within a silence
To the void where you are.

The earth has turned to catch the sun,
And tiny you and I
Respond to God’s arithmetic
With a giant sigh.

It is slow addition
From waste to arctic waste,
Vast oceans etch a silver trail
O’er hidden icebergs, chaste.

It laps the shores around the world,
It falls on flower and stone.
It creeps up steps and windows
Invading cot and throne.

From continent to continent
It picks its singing way.
Regardlessly it multiplies
‘Til stars break into day.

B.P. Daniel (1929 - )

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11 Responses

  1. SmallWorld April 11th, 2008 at 5:07 am

    That is so beautiful! Your mother is a wonderful poet. I love this image of morning making its way across the world….
    Thanks for playing!

  2. Tipper April 11th, 2008 at 5:12 am

    Beautiful! Your Mom is truly gifted. One of my girls writes poetry-I’ll have to show it to her.

  3. Jen April 11th, 2008 at 8:35 am

    SmallWorld, thanks. She doesn’t think she’s talented, but everyone in the family knows it. I wish she’d write more poetry these days, but she’s getting tired.

    Tipper, thank you! I’ll pass that along to her. Maybe you can post some of your girl’s poetry for us sometime.

  4. mrs darling April 11th, 2008 at 9:02 am

    I love that poem. Its beautiful!

  5. Jen April 11th, 2008 at 9:52 am

    Mrs. Darling, thanks again! Now, YOU are a wonderful poet, you should have submitted one of your poems…actually, I should have submitted something FOR you, knowing how you never get around to those sorts of things! :-)

  6. Jane April 11th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    Lovely poem- your mom is talented! I think of Spring as a morning time of day too.

  7. Renae April 11th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    Gorgeous imagery! I love the line,
    The earth has turned to catch the sun,
    And tiny you and I
    Respond to God’s arithmetic
    With a giant sigh.

    It reminds me of cuddling with my Sunshine while the sun glances through the slit between the curtains.

  8. J.N.C.White April 11th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    It is nice, but I don’t know if the form best suits her subject. The rhyme sounds forced in places, leaving the lines sounding dull. Some of her diction, such as “cometh” and “chaste” is archaic. All of this leaves the poem unbelievable, preventing the piece from captivating me. I like connection between “God’s arithmetic” and “It is slow addition.”
    Does she have any newer poems, or poems written in a more organic form?

  9. Jen April 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    Jane, oh, glad I’m not the only spring/morning person! Right now ’tis afternoon heading into evening, or, autumn. :-)

    Renae, I like that line a lot, too. I also like “It creeps up steps and windows / Invading cot and throne.” Morning is no respecter of persons.

    J.N.C.White, now, I looked at your poetry on your blog. Waaaay over my little unpoetic head! So, I appreciate your comments, coming from a talented person. But there is certainly a place for my mom’s poetry, which is simple, and speaks to me. I’ll post something again from her that is in a more organic form that you would probably appreciate.

  10. J.N.C.White April 12th, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Yeah I’m out there, but I would like to see more.

  11. SmallWorld April 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    Jennifer! Guess what? You were randomly chosen as the winner of my contest!! Send me your address at shc.small@gmail.com and I’ll be getting a package in the mail to you!
    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SmallWorld/516353/

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