LEADERS - not followers

Sunday, June 22, 2008

TOP Summer

ALL ON A SUMMER’S DAY

Glancing upwards, to the treetops
From time to time, swifts can be seen
Darting about the foliage
Disappearing into the green

In the cool of early morning
Congregations of dragonflies
Commence proceedings for the day
Then introduce the butterflies

Brightly coloured ballerinas
Shimmering to an unheard tune
Building up to a crescendo
In the heat of late afternoon

Sunset heralds the finale
Morning’s dragonflies reappear
Flying strictly in formation
Performing without flaw or fear

Flowing and ebbing on breezes
Thermals only they can detect
They glide along the golden glow
Mesmerising, peerless, perfect

Soaring skywards, surfing sweet scents
Summer’s subtle, silent surprise
Show’s not over, still the encore
As bats replace the dragonflies

Unknowingly, the sightless bats
Mimic the actions of the swifts
The butterflies, the dragonflies
And entertain us with their gifts

A short-lived treat as clouds, in crowds
Gather to make a mockery
Of summer’s promise, never spoken
Never guaranteed…yet broken

12 comments:

  1. this has a beautiful lyrical quality to it..

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  2. Thanks paisley; And observing it is no less satisfying.

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  3. Hi Stan, I really enjoyed reading this - I think you are starting to become very good at this game - keep it up!

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  4. Hi Andy, I'm enjoying doing it, and with encouragement like that (and not only from yourself), I'll continue to play.

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  5. This was marvellously visual. An experience as well as a read.

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  6. Vibrantly visual ~ the words play together very well!

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  7. I will be kinder to all the insects I encounter today because of your poem. LOL
    Great job.

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  8. vinettes of images are beautiful... as if time stops and your there.. as a crazy gardener always in the garden enjoying the life within... you describe it so perfectly... and ending with bats that was a pleasant surprise.. great post...

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  9. What is it about summer that makes us want to rhyme? Your words soar and fly just like those birds!

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  10. Thanks to:
    anthony north; Experienced on many a lazy summer's day.
    tumblewords;a version of 'people watching'. Concentrating on airborne 'visitors'.
    karen crone; They can bring us pleasure - why not return the favour?
    one more believer; I'm not a gardner, but I spend a lot of time outside enjoying sights, sounds etc.
    linda jacobs; I think images such as this are naturaly poetic in themselves.

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  11. That last verse has some serious but delightful metaphoric punch.

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  12. I suppose most things can be interpreted as a metaphor for something else. Truth is, here I was merely referring to the fact that the setting sun (here in the north of Thailand), draws the clouds lower and at least one in three summer days end in rain

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