(With a gratitude to Kathleen Norris and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
The sun rises and the sun setsDay after day in steady pace.Before twilight, payday is over,And returning home, moving in prayerThe worker cooks supper, cleans it up,Feeds the kitty and walks the pup.During the night, visions ariseJoining day’s tasks with the sounds outside:The owl hoots or the sirens screamDeep sleep restores beyond the dreamAnd the sun rises, the sun sets.In the morning, the worker begins againWashing, cooking, setting up, taking downAnd when joys and sorrows come aroundThe quotidian is the re-starting place,The heritage and cultural grace.The sun rises and sets and rises again.
While writing this I was listening to Call's Let the Day Begin. It was early spring and I was adjusting to leaving my job. I was in love with life and letting the rhythms of the Great Tree of Romanticism flow through me. Today, I am posting "The Quotidian" at Poets United "Poetry Pantry - #111."
Copyright © 2012 S.L.Chast
Loved this Susan!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, but my mind draws a blank with the word 'quotidian,' so i think I am missing the key to understanding this poem. I read 'payday is over' to mean your working years are over...but as time goes on you realize work (maybe of a different kind, or maybe some of the same) still goes on. I think I'd understand more if I understood that one word.
ReplyDeleteHit the Kathleen Norris link above. It will take you to her lecture called "The Quotidian Mysteries." Enjoy!
DeleteI love the repeating "sun". Lovely
ReplyDeleteIncredibly beautiful, lilting and resonant with the love of life. Loved this.
ReplyDeleteI like the pedestrian nature (hard for some to find) of this.
ReplyDeleteKudos.
the sun rises and the sun sets and, if we're lucky, it rises again {or rather we do.} on first reading, i took your words as laced with sorrow ~ after listening to "Let the Day Begin" i felt a sense of optimism and security in knowing that the sun will always rise again.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed this in both readings.
♥
Thank you for this lovely comment!
DeleteI like both the subject matter and the expression of it.
ReplyDelete