it is summer and i count back-
wards
the wintry clouds
a midnight blanket
i fluff & huff
darkness to fold away
shadows to box up
this rain is spring
in my measuring cup
i salt the soil with seeds
lightness to drink from
brightness to smudge with
this sun is mad ball
of fire
wrinking my skin to red
clay, muddy brown & yellowing
leaves
i marvel the sky
an umbrella of majestic russet shades
this sun wrapped hours, i savor
while drinking cool water
this summer is a jar
bathed in wilted lemon
flowers
i count back-
wards
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's quote: It is very hard to write this way, beginning things backward…
–The Torrents of Spring (1926)
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - One True Sentence, hosted by Lisa Fox. Thanks for your visits and comments.
wonderful... who could believe that we would be here in this heat after the cold winter... but maybe when I sit here thinking it's too hot it's good to ponder how it was
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly gorgeous, Grace!💝 Especially love; "this rain is spring in my measuring cup i salt the soil with seeds lightness to drink from brightness to smudge with."💝
ReplyDeleteI especially like this stanza:
ReplyDelete"this rain is spring
in my measuring cup
i salt the soil with seeds
lightness to drink from
brightness to smudge with"
I love the way you went with the prompt, counting backwards from winter to summer. You had me playing the year backwards in my head, quite an unsettling and thought-provoking effect!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Grace!
ReplyDeleteAw, yes. Summer is finally here. Nicely done Grace.
ReplyDeletePat
So lovely. The truth is so surprising read backwards.
ReplyDeleteI could almost see the hands of the clock spinning backward, the calendar pages re-gluing themselves. Great work, Grace
ReplyDeleteI love this at the end: "this summer is a jar bathed in wilted lemon flowers." Gorgeous imagery!
ReplyDeletenice use of metaphor.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely write. I echo the appreciation of this stanza in particular.
ReplyDelete"this rain is spring
in my measuring cup
i salt the soil with seeds
lightness to drink from
brightness to smudge with"
You did this beautifully Grace ☺️
ReplyDeleteGrace, so many lovely lines in your poem. Sigh ......
ReplyDeleteGrace,
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. You took us backwards in clouds, rain, sky, sun, through the seasons and back again, "the sun wrapped hours" as in a lovely melody of imagery.
pax,
dora
very nice,like the second stanza very much. 'shadows to box up'
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this reflective testament to summer.
ReplyDeleteThe circle goes in both directions...
ReplyDeleteoh the looping of this poem took my breath away. the in-between images. umbrella of colors. wow. wow.
ReplyDeleteLovely imagery!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delicate whispering graceful poem! I love all the sensory details.
ReplyDelete"a midnight blanket"
"darkness to fold away"
"The sun is mad ball of fire"
"the summer is a jar bathed in wilted lemon flowers"
Gorgeous <3
To count backwards is perhaps just as difficult as walking backwards. Great, you've done it well, Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
all of it cool, especially "i salt the soil with seeds".
ReplyDeleteare you expressing your e.e. cummings side, and not capitalizing?