The wind whispers, storms
over river dreams, the river seems
awake and wild, shimmering—riled
by ancient breath or humming moon.
The wind whispers, storms—
too soon the blue, the hue
of water-sky. So high the ospreys fly
through shifting clouds, the rustling loud
as the wind whispers, storms,
through trees, bent but proud.
The squirrels chitter, the deer skitter,
while blue becomes slate grey–
they hide or stay.
The wind whispers storms,
but the sun, bright-rayed
comes out to play.
And the wind whispers,
the storms have gone away.
Ingrid is doing a dVerse prompt on oral poetry. I’m not sure that I did it exactly. I often read my poetry out loud and adjust it. This is not the best recording, but here it is. 😀 I finally figured out how to post it here.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I love all of the assonance you have packed in here Merril, it really makes the poem sing. And the repeated whisper of the wind, which in the end brings some relief in the final line. It was lovely to hear you read – thank you for including the recording!
Thank you for the prompt, Ingrid. I felt like I needed to write something this afternoon.
I love the rhythm and rhyme to this, Merril. The idea also resonates, where the sky keeps promising to bring storms but then the sun comes out to play. I like how the blue sky turns to grey. Nice to hear you read it as well 🙂
Thank you so much, Lisa! Yes, we’ve had a lot of those changeable skies. 😀
You’re welcome. I was actually trying to call the rain in with my poem.
Oh. We probably haven’t had as much rain as wet air here–you’re welcome to some of it! 🤣
Oh, lovely! And thank you for the reading. You have a good voice!
Oh, thank you so much! I always hate hearing my voice. 😀
You shouldn’t, it’s an attractive one. I don’t speak and I don’t appear. I’m a written words only person 🙂
Thank you for the compliment! I would love to hear you read one of yours someday.
I don’t like my voice. The voice I hear in recording isn’t the same as the one I hear in my head, or even the one I hear when I speak aloud. It’s like somebody entirely different.
That’s how I feel about mine! 😀
Well, be reassured, whatever you think it sounds like, it doesn’t 🙂
This is like a song, I love the repetition and how the storm seems to come and go, a Summer thunderstorm coming and leaving so rapidly.
Thank you so much! Yes, it seems like the weather is so changeable. Sun to clouds to sun. . .
I love the idea of the wind whispering that a storm is coming….
Thank you! 😀
This is so wonderful, Merril. Hearing you read it brings an added beauty to the rhythms and feel of it. Just lovely.
Thank you, Dale. That’s so kind! 💙
I really loved it! 🧡🧡
😘
😘
The ending of the poem was so unexpected! I loved your reading. It was very soothing.
Oh, thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
I loved listening to this. I read it first, and thought; I think I read this as Merril means it.
Then I saw the listen thing, and it sounded just as I had read it!
Thank you!!!!
Hahaha. Thank you!
PS… lovely voice!
Thank you, Resa!
This is breathtakingly beautiful, Merril! I especially love; “So high the ospreys fly
through shifting clouds, the rustling loud as the wind whispers.”💝💝
Aww–thank you so much, Sanaa! ❤️
Love this, Merril!
Thank you, Lucy!
An evocative poem and lovely reading, Merril. My favourite line: “ancient breath or humming moon.”
Thank you very much, Sunra! 💙
Wonderful, Merril! Going forward, I think I’d like for you to read all of your poetry! 🙂 Beautiful!
Thank you, Jill! That is so kind. 💙
wow that last line hit home with me.
Thank you so much, Rog!
That’s just beautiful, Merril. Those last two lines really landed well.
Thank you, Cheryl. I appreciate that!
.:..the rustling loud…”
Very interesting
Much❤love
Thanks so much, Gillena! 💙
Enjoyed your reading, such a dreamy piece, that is perfect for the oral form with assonance stitched in! 😍
Thank you very much, Tricia! 💙
Thank you for persisting with the audio. I enjoyed it all the way through, especially the lilting note at the end. Others have mentioned the assonance; I noticed the sibilant sounds too. Well done, Merril!
Thank you so much, Marian! I appreciate your kind words. 💙
Very nicely done Merril. I enjoyed your recording of the reading. The repeat of whispered storms works so well throughout.
Thank you so much, Dwight!
You are welcome!
I enjoyed the music of all the internal rhyme.
Thank you very much!
Beautifully written and read, Merril. The rhyme and the refrain are most effective
Thank you very much, Derrick!
This was wonderful. Not sure which I liked more: your poem, or you reading of it.
That is so very kind, Ron. Thank you!
Gorgeously beautiful, Merril! The assonance works so wonderfully to make it lyrical. Loved your reading. ❤️
Delightful oral poem. I loved hearing your voice; it was very soothing.
Merril, this is a lovely reading and a beautiful poem …. your voice is soothing.
Love this! Your voice brings the poem to life. So good.
Aww–thank you! 💙
Welcome
Merril,
Evocative imagery of storm threatening, storm averted, the river, the moon, the deer and the osprey pulsing as one. Simply beautiful, and beautifully read.
pax,
dora
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and kind words, Dora!
Well, Merril D. Smith, you’ve blown me away, as you often do. Your voice just flows like gentle water over the pebbles of your words.
❤
David
Thank you very much, David. That is very kind. 💙
Stunning. I can relate to the storm.
Thank you so much, Mary!
OMG!
I came to check in if you are okay!
Watching news of the flooding in the NE states.
Hope you are okay! xx
Aww–thank you so much for checking on me, Resa! Yes, we are fine. We had a couple scary hours, but the tornado didn’t hit us, nor the flooding. I’m going to put up a post soon.
Thank goodness!!!! YAYAYAY!!!!!
😘😘
…. although my heart goes out to the unfortunate. Also, all the unfortunate on the gulf.
This Ida was one big mofo!
It sure was! 💙
Reblogged this on Fevers of the Mind and commented:
Merril is a wonderful poet/writer. Stay tuned from more writing from Merril in forthcoming Fevers of the Mind Anthologies.
David! Thank you! I appreciate your kind words so much.
What a STORM it was, maybe even worse for you all then us here in New England. It STORMED all night long – with 4-8 inches of STORMY rain. Your STORM poem is fabulous, and I love hearing it with your voice as well! May we have no more STORMS for awhile now!
Thank you very much, Pam! This poem isn’t even about a storm that was. The real storm was last night. 😀 I just wrote about that.
A fine response to the prompt. “The wind whispers storms” is a great hook.
Thank you very much!
Well said dear. I like the selection of poetic devices that you had used.
Thank you very much. 😀
Mine pleasure
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