After Midnight, Before Dawn
No pinprick piercings, no diamond studs sparkle tonight–
the velvet expanse under a dusty curtain, the
air almost-wet under the cloud-mantle,
the moon a nearly forgotten face of
someone once loved. This space,
with its soft psithurism, as if sound was embroidered,
overlayed on boughs. And I feel time has slowed with
unknown purpose—perhaps waiting for the return of stars.
For the dVerse prompt today, I did not write a cento, but I did write a golden shovel. I used a line from Jane Dougherty’s poem, “Defining”:
“night, the mantle of space, embroidered with stars,”
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
You took a night sky bright with stars and turned it into a sky of clouds waiting for the brightness to return. I understand the feeling xx
I hope you don’t mind, but I thought you might. At least there’s hope they’ll return. xx
I love what you did to it. Yes, there’s always hope xx
💙
Psithurism. What a great word. I love the idea of sound being embroidered, and the moon “a nearly forgotten face of
someone once loved”.
Thank you very much! And thank you for the prompt!
An exquisite poem and I love how you have used the line from Jane’s poem. I really loved this line
“with its soft psithurism, as if sound was embroidered,
overlayed on boughs. “
That’s very kind. Thank you so much!
Gorgeous!
Thank you very much!
This is beautiful, Merril. It evokes for me the sense of wonder and search for meaning and purpose, as well as thoughts of those ‘gone up into the heavens’ as we gaze into the night sky.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Steve. I’m so pleased you found such meaning in my words. 💙
My pleasure, Merril. 🙏🏼
I love your golden shovel. The standout lines for me are “the moon a nearly forgotten face of
someone once loved” and “as if sound was embroidered, overlayed on boughs.”
Thank you very much, Liz. I’m so pleased you liked it.
You’re welcome, Merril.
Bravo!
Thank you for droppibg by my blog
much♡love
Thank you and you’re welcome, Gillena!
A perfect complement to Jane’s words. “the moon a nearly forgotten face of
someone once loved”–so beautiful. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe!
I will look at the moon as it blooms more fully, in a different way thanks to your poem Merril 🌺
Thank you so much, Susan!
You chose a stellar line from which to create your golden shovel, Merri – from the doyenne of golden shovels – and you reversed the meaning! I love the line ‘no pinprick piercings, no diamond studs sparkle tonight’ and the ‘moon a nearly forgotten face of someone once loved’.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Kim!
My pleasure!
Splendidly evocative. Of course I looked up psithurism and found my guess correct – thanks to your use
Thank you very much Derrick. 😊
a golden treasure you dug with your shovel -a meditative midnight without the gloom, and embroidering “soft psithurism ” capped it all
Thank you very much, Laura.
I love the poem and read the comments too. What a devoted and insightful group of readers you have, Merril, “doyenne of golden shovels.”
Of course the word psithurism caught my eye too, apparently a first cousin to the word susurration.
Thank you very much, Marian. I think the doyenne title referred to Jane. She writes a lot of them. 😊
I wanted to use a different word this time. 🙂
Beautiful, Merril 💫
Thank you, Robbie. 😊
Your poetry always blows me away, Merril. Sublime.
Oh–what a lovely thing to write. Thank you so much, D! 😍
How awesome your golden shovel / cento!!! Cheers and Brava, Merril.
Thank you so much, Helen!
((It’s a golden shovel, not a cento.)
A swoon-worthy golden shovel, Merril! Wow! 😍😍
Thank you, Sanaa! 😊
This is such a delight for the senses, Merril. Delicious use of Jane’s line.
Thank you very much, Dale!
You’re welcome 🙂
Wonderful lines in this and the word psithurism is one I hope I can remember. Beautiful.
Thank you very much, Debi!
Lovely, and another new-to-me word 🙂
Thank you, Marie! 😊
Your golden shovel is beautiful, Merril. You would have heard me sigh at “the moon a nearly forgotten face of
someone once loved” and “This space,
with its soft psithurism, as if sound was embroidered”.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Mish. Much appreciated. 💙
You chose a stunning painting to go with this rich poem, Merril.
It’s like I can her the embroidery on the boughs, while I wait.
Thank you very much, Resa!
A tad melancholy but so beautiful, Merril! You picked a great line from Jane’s poem and I love that it ends on a hopeful note. 💙
Thank you very much, Punam! 💙
‘Waiting for the return of stars’ – beautiful ✨
Thank you very much, Ingrid!
Very beautiful writing.
Thank you!
Beautiful and I learned a new word! Thank you. 😊
Thank you very much! 😊