Sun and clouds reflected on the surface of the Delaware River, Feb. 24, 2020 Merril D. Smith
I watch the apricot sun settle
in feathered-grey clouds
reflected in the water
the rocks on the shore–
with time,
they’ll crumble
washed by the river,
polished by the rain,
burnished in the golden glow
I walk with long shadow legs
into the twilight,
as the geese honk farewell.
Scientists say
Betelgeuse may soon explode–
but I look up at the moon, waxing,
it will be here long after I’m gone,
but now, it lights my way
home to you.
This poem is for my dVerse prompt, Impermanence. So, I didn’t come up with anything particularly unique because I was inspired by this photo I took yesterday while walking by the river. Come join us with your thoughts.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I really love the way you let different timescales coincide into that glorious moment of coming home… just noticing the uniqueness of a moment makes it memorable.
Thank you so much. I’ve been thinking about time and rocks –and then that sunset glow yesterday.
Yes, it’s the swing from sunset into space, then home to love – such different scales.
Thank you–I hope it’s not too much. My mind tends to connect random things. 🙂
No, I think it works well.
Thank you!
Yes, I like that ping pong out and back again too. If Betelgeuse explodes soon, it will be millions of years before we see it and by then we’ll all be gone. ‘All’ humanity. You and I will have departed some time before 🙂
You know how I like to bounce about from sky to earth and back. 🙂 Apparently Betelgeuse was dimming, and there was some thought that it might explode and we would see it, but now apparently it’s no longer dimming from what I just read.
What intrigues me though is that the light takes so long to get here that if Betelgeuse exploded tomorrow it would be 640 years before we saw it. (I looked it up).
I don’t know, but it looks like it’s not going to happen now anyway. 🙂
So many aspects of impermanence, from sunrise, clouds and shore to the stars and the writer. Nicely done.
I knew what I wanted to write for your prompt when I saw your water.
Thank you, Ken.
I just read yours. No surprise that you would write about water. 🙂
😀
Beautifully written.
I hope you are well my friend.
I just found this in my spam folder. Thank you very much for your kind words. I just saw that you had a heart attack. I hope you are feeling better, and that your heart is healing.
Little by little eaxch day. Thank you so much
lol you asked us to go unique so glad that you explained … that is a stunning photo which would have also inspired me 🙂
yes some take longer to perish …
Thank you! Hahaha. Yes, I never actually have a poem in mind when I write the prompt, so it’s a surprise to me, too, what I come up with. 🙂
lol I think some might write their poem before they post their prompt 😉 sssh I wont say who
More of a challenge the other way. Just sayin’. 😉
I think so 🙂
🙂
Well, I can certainly see why you were inspired, Merril. What a view! Nicely done!
Thank you very much, Jill!
You had me at “apricot sun”. I used cantaloupe sun recently; tangerine is my favorite I think. Your tercets were brisk and fun to read, a perfect illustration for your prompt.
Thank you, Glenn! 🙂
I like the quiet peacefulness of your beach walk.
Thank you! It was a lovely day. 🙂
What a lovely read! You took us with you!
Thank you very much!
Oh, I LOVE this poem: the gorgeous imagery, the long shadow legs, and walking home to someone special.
Thank you so much, Sherry!
Rivers are in a constant state of change. Stones are ground and polished and some crumble into sand. Very nicely done.
Thank you very much, Dwight!
Beautiful, Merril!
“I walk with long shadow legs
into the twilight,” ❤
Thank you very much, Katy. I’m pleased you picked those lines. ❤
What a wonderful poem to go with your beautiful photo… Time – so many ways of looking at it.
Thank you very much, Dale! Yes, you know I’m a bit obsessed with the subject. 😉
Nothing wrong with that!!
🙂
such a tender and soft poem, Merril! The apricot sun. ❤
Thank you so much! ❤
The photo that inspired you is gorgeous, Merril, and I love the way your poem reflects the reflections, taking us further into the landscape – the future in the lines:
‘the rocks on the shore–
with time,
they’ll crumble’
and back to the present in:
‘I walk with long shadow legs
into the twilight,
as the geese honk farewell.’
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment and kind words, Kim.
Beautiful photo that’s truly inspirational and I also enjoyed the poem, very much!
Thank you very much, Ms. Liz!
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Lovely words, beautiful shot!
Thank you very much!
✌
A beautiful piece. I was particularly enchanted by the phrase, “apricot sun”
Thank you very much!
I almost put this comment in the trash because the Website that shows up looks like a fake one, but then I saw your link in the other comment.
Good point about Betelgeuse. Enjoy its light while one can.
Thank you, Frank. I will. 😉
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My favorite lines:
‘I walk with long shadow legs
into the twilight,
as the geese honk farewell.’
I’m particularly fond of geese and they often fly into my own poems. I’m just reading a wonderful bio by Sylvia Ashton Warner about T.H. White who wrote “The Once and Future King” and also loved geese.
Thank you so much. I like geese, too. (It’s possible that I say hello to them when I walk by them.) 🙂
beautiful
Thank you!
my pleasure
The first verse is particularly intriguingly descriptive – I must be careful I don’t nick it 🙂
Thank you, Derrick. 🙂 I almost nicked your tree description from the other day.
🙂
Merril, this is gorgeous. I love the way you jump from earth to sky and back.
Thank you very much, Linda!
A beautiful image and poem Merril, I especially love the apricot sun, something we rarely see here 🧡
Thank you very much! I appreciate your kind words–and I hope you see a bright apricot sun soon! 🙂
The “it will be here long after I’m gone” sent shivers up my spine. Both the verse and the photo are incredible!
Thanks so much, Rachel!
Merril
A great reminder to celebrate a simple walk along the water. These were the lines that spoke most to me, “‘I walk with long shadow legs
into the twilight,
as the geese honk farewell.’
Thank you very much, Ali!