Thursday, August 20, 2015

Silent flapping of wings in the declining light above

                                                                  Attribution: 'Sun Flight' by Douglas Salisbury
Image: Courtesy of Susie's and Douglas Salisbury (here)

“In order to see birds it is necessary to become
a part of the silence.” ― Robert Lynd

Bathed in the silence of the evening sun's rays
Light progressively darkened in throes of pain
Farewell to the vigorous heat of the blazing sun
Bidding good-bye yet from another busy day
Accompanied with murmuring of the lazy waves below
Silent flapping of wings in the declining light above
To meet the mysteries of night's humble restrains

A daily occurrence enacted faithfully without fail
Programmed sparingly from the beginning of times
Giving time for those sensitive to little changes
Yet not readily seen much less appreciated
Except for clusters of life's sacred witnesses

These are the loyal band of mankind out there
Setting out in little fishing boats to sea
Grappling with the vagaries of weather
To bring back meager catch in the morning
Only to be exploited most times by the
greedy and unscrupulous middlemen

But they are the happiest of souls eking a living
In their own simple ways they bask in wonders of nature
Amid heavenly golden skies when setting
out evenings and an equally gorgeous
orange horizon of the rising sun mornings

For Bjorn's hosting at d'Verse's OLN #153 and
Susie's at Real Toads  - Bits of Inspiration  -
with Douglas' photography
Posted by at

22 comments:

  1. brudbergAugust 20, 2015 at 9:40 PM

    There are those moments when not all the money in the world can replace to be a part of such a scene, to get your substance and harvest beauty.

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  2. vivinfranceAugust 20, 2015 at 9:46 PM

    I became immersed in your scene while reading - a truly poetic poem!

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  3. Sanaa RizviAugust 21, 2015 at 2:15 AM

    But they are the happiest of souls eking a living
    In their own simple ways they bask in wonders of nature

    Beautiful lines :D

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  4. ClaudiaAugust 21, 2015 at 4:08 AM

    i think that it is not a matter of money in the end to feel happy and valuable - it's about how much we manage to see the beauty around us

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  5. Holy Ghost WriterAugust 21, 2015 at 4:19 AM

    Simple can leave people happy

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  6. GraceAugust 21, 2015 at 4:43 AM

    You have captured the happy flight of those birds, specially in the last stanza ~ Good response to the photography Hank ~

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  7. MaryAugust 21, 2015 at 4:57 AM

    I do picture fishermen as being very happy as they work...but, yes, it is hoped that the middleman will not take more profit than the ones who do the actual work.

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  8. Other MaryAugust 21, 2015 at 5:59 AM

    They definately have the best view. No cubicle at least.

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  9. Maude LynnAugust 21, 2015 at 7:59 AM

    This is lovely, Hank!

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  10. Sumana RoyAugust 21, 2015 at 8:33 AM

    "A daily occurrence enacted faithfully without fail
    Programmed sparingly from the beginning of times"....I love these lines that say all..a beautiful poem...

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  11. Susie ClevengerAugust 21, 2015 at 8:38 AM

    You have taken us into the image where serenity and hope abides. This is a breath of peace. Beautiful...Thanks so much for taking part in the prompt.

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  12. Kerry O'ConnorAugust 21, 2015 at 8:52 AM

    You really 'thought' yourself into the photograph. Such a pleasant description of the seaside.

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  13. VictoriaAugust 21, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    You created such a sense of place with the images you give us in this, beginning with the photo. Very calming flow to your lines. Wonderful poem.

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  14. Glenn ButtkusAugust 21, 2015 at 11:00 AM

    A wonderful word-ride, Hank. I think you really soared into this image & created a whole scenario of delight. I like the quote at the beginning too. I have opened with a quote for years now. It just feels right. I hang out at the ocean often, & you wrote something that smacks of Hemingway (THE OLD MAN & THE SEA), & Steinbeck (THE PEARL); fine job. I love the line /except for clusters of life's sacred witnesses/. I'd like to think that we poets meet that criteria as well.

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  15. tonispencerAugust 21, 2015 at 1:37 PM

    The last stanza says it all. Money isn't what always gives us that sense of satisfaction, peace....My ancestors came to this country ages ago, settling on the coast. My great grandfather often told of how when he was a boy, during the hard work of being a waterman, his grandfather would stop and point up to the sky, or the birds, or the sunrise and tell him to look deeply and always remember. spencer is Kanzensakura

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  16. GabriellaAugust 21, 2015 at 1:54 PM

    If you feel your life is worth living, the money is only part of the whole picture and is not that important.

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  17. Pat HattAugust 21, 2015 at 2:45 PM

    They can see all, and happy is sure the best way to live life. But humans need money too lol

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  18. Katie Mia FrederickAugust 21, 2015 at 11:37 PM

    Executive Officer
    of ship on land
    tales.. oh
    GOD THAT 'Walker'
    Janitor.. the black
    man with an
    IQ of less
    that stellar
    is FiN so
    dam Happy...
    Oh the ignorance
    of knowledge grows
    as sadness fills a
    shell well HELL
    And A Ghost
    Dance
    Grows
    ON..
    wITh ancestors
    sinGiNG LaLa..La..La..La..La
    La..LaLa.. i frigging heArtED
    you so..then and always now..:)

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  19. AbhraAugust 22, 2015 at 11:22 AM

    "They are the happiest of souls eking a living
    In their own simple ways they bask in wonders of nature"

    I love this - Hank.

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  20. C.C.August 22, 2015 at 6:24 PM

    Simplicity in nature, basking in it, even just barely making a living can truly be one of the ways to true happiness in this world!

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  21. grapelingAugust 23, 2015 at 12:41 AM

    you've captured the fading light, Hank ~

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  22. HannahAugust 25, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    This poem is so graceful...a joy to read...thank you!

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