At Sunset

I can usually recall the starting point ... the impetus ... of something I've written. Not so in this case.

It might be because I've been preoccupied with thoughts of an upcoming poetry reading, and just now got around to making today's posting.

It might be because I've written so many. It becomes a bit difficult to recall precisely what triggered each one.

I have a feeling, though, that this one promised to be a longer piece ... perhaps a short story. I was letting my imagination run free on this scene from the close of the day. I'm not sure where it was headed ... its ultimate destination.

Writing is like that sometimes. I always like to get the words on paper ... those bits and pieces of thought which come to me of their own accord ... for, on later reflection ... and a bit of tweaking ... they may turn into something worth keeping and sharing.

This one didn't go on to bigger things. But I liked the descriptive phrases, and it appears that the editor liked them, too.

With that, here's the poem:

AT SUNSET

Dying embers of day

arc slowly on drapes

drawn tightly

like an old man's mouth

sealed against saying

that which must

not be said. His room,

steeped in darkness,

recalls a steely pool

of tension, burdened

dome of sky,

dark leaves stirring

now, a gathering

of thoughts seeking

shelter for the night.

© 1999

(originally published in Potpourri)

Today's word: steeped