I sit on a second-floor-porch
rocking chair with a book open in my lap.
Earlier I saw the dawn break
through a cloudy sky, and watched the sun rise.
Now I pull my consciousness
into the lettered world.
I set this day aside for the luxury of reading.
My awareness telescopes
between small and large plains
of being: words and birds.
My eyes follow the birds
flying back and forth from
the castle turret to the tree top
straight ahead of me. I pick
up their songs, a dialogue
I do not recognize.
Back to the book
where lines of type unroll and English words
lean forward into phrases and discoveries.
This is a language I know well.
And this is the ideal midsummer,
When protests and letter writing
can be set aside for words and birds,
for flowers and feathered friends.
Posted for Sumana's open link today at What's Going On?
My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright
© 2026 Susan L. Chast
I love the stillness of the speaker's heart and the slow pace. Just to 'be' among words, birds, flowers and the surroundings. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love having a day for the luxury of reading.and your awareness shifting between words and birds. Sometimes one just has to set aside more ponderous things and just take time to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI love "Now I pull my consciousness into the lettered world." I do that nightly, and it is such a lovely escape3 for my brain. I love the dual pleasures of words and birds. This poem went down like cool water for the thirsty heart.
ReplyDeleteWishing you words and birds and flowers and feathered friends. Yes, Engish is a beautiful language.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect way to spend a midsummer day, Susan. Delightful~
ReplyDelete