When Linda first posted our November challenge form, an aubade, I had to look it up. The first description I came across was, “A love poem or song welcoming or lamenting the arrival of the dawn.” Well, as I’m a lifelong lark, that sounded do-able. Feeling optimistic, I researched a bit more and discovered this Wikipedia definition: “An aubade is a morning love song (as opposed to a serenade, intended for performance in the evening), or a song or poem about lovers separating at dawn. It has also been defined as “a song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak”.” I liked this broader definition and started considering my options. Unfortunately, I didn’t get too far.
Then, not too long ago, at a store with my daughters, I noticed a display of small charms. Each was shaped differently and was accompanied by a small card with “Advice” from that creature or being. I was charmed by the idea, and it struck me that the rising sun would have some advice to impart. That could fit with Linda Mitchell’s November challenge to write an “Aubade.” Maybe… Sort of…
Advice from the Rising Sun in Autumn
Remember you always have choices:
make a bold entrance
or tiptoe in with muted steps,
but don’t forget to show up.
Be kind.
Take time to warm the breast
of the patient heron
who lingers at water’s edge.
Spotlight leaves in their final fall,
cushioning their spiraling descent
with your elongated golden rays.
Work your magic when you can.
Turn dust motes into fairy dust.
Conjure tendrils of mist from the river.
Bejewel the frosted grass and
kindle a rich amber glow
in the heart of a leaf-laden maple.
Do your part
to banish threatening shadows,
push back winter’s encroaching chill, and
usher in hope on the wings of a new day.
Finally, don’t forget
to look on the bright side–
an adversity of clouds
may just be the perfect opportunity
to create a spectacular scene.
©Molly Hogan, 2020
If you’d like to check out what the other Swaggers did with this Aubade challenge, click on the links:
Heidi (My Juicy Little Universe)
Linda (A Word Edgewise)
Catherine (Reading to the Core)
Margaret (Reflections on the Teche)
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Susan Bruck at her blog, Soul Blossom Living. She’s sharing a delightful whimsical romp of a poem and some lovely accompanying art work. Be sure to stop by and check it all out, along with links to lots of other poems.
Nix the comfort zone 
I love this sort-of aubade. Is there a term for a poem of advice? This is my favorite line, “Turn dust motes into fairy dust.” I see it in the morning when there is fog over the bayou, especially this time of year when the morning chill is cooler than the warm water.
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Writing a “poem of advice” reminded me a bit of writing “Things to Do” poems.
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[…] Heidi Mordhorst @ My Juicy Little UniverseLinda Mitchell @ A Word EdgewiseMargaret Simon @ Reflections on the TecheMolly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone […]
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Oh, my goodness….what a lovely, lovely poem. Warm the breast of the patient heron, look on the bright side. So many great images ring true here. I love this so much. It’s got such a positive, motherly vibe…Mother Nature really does love us and take care of us with advice such as this. Thank you, Molly.
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Thanks for the challenge, Linda. Dawn is absolutely my favorite time of day and I enjoyed messing around with a number of possibilities before I settled on this one.
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an adversity of clouds! LOVE! Wonderful advice here, and it’s exactly the poem you needed to write. Thank you! xo
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Thanks, Irene!
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Molly, your advice poem is what I needed to read this morning. These lines struck me as a great lead to a deeper reflection about life.
“Work your magic when you can.
Turn dust motes into fairy dust.”
The sensory images in your poem are lovely.
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Thank you, Carol. I hope we all work our magic when we can!
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Simply gorgeous!
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Thanks, Jama!
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Such good advice from the rising sun!
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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There’s a lot of good energy floating around at dawn.
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This is all beautiful, but that last stanza…wow. An adversity of clouds. Love this, Molly!
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Thanks, Laura!
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Lovely. Something interesting and special happens when a poem gives instructions. I agree with Laura–adversity of clouds is WONDERFUL.
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It was a fun poem to write–I had to stop myself from giving even more advice! lol
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Well, I’m glad you saw the inspiration in those charms. This is wonderful, Molly. I can see the magic of your photos in your words.
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What a lovely compliment, Linda! Thank you so much.
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Thank you, Sun, for this fabulous advice!
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We’ve been enjoying some lovely sunny days here 🙂
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I love this Molly and I felt like you (or the sun?) was speaking directly to me, especially here: “make a bold entrance
or tiptoe in with muted steps,
but don’t forget to show up.”
Thank you!
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Yeah. Sometimes the showing up feels challenging, doesn’t it!?
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I love your approach to this challenge, Molly. We would all do well to heed Sun’s advice to “be kind” and “do [our] part/to banish threatening shadows.” Your photo is stunning, too!
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Thanks, Catherine. I’m intrigued by the idea of advice poems and may try some more.
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The leaves, the mist – the glory – just magnificent, Molly, how you conjure these images so clearly and lyrically. “Work your magic where you can” – oh yes, yes. Like seeing the adversity of clouds arranging themselves for a spectacular display. I love this “sort-of” aubade. It imparts such beauty and strength. And courage and unity – I wrote a sort-of pantoum!
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Thanks so much for your comment, Fran. It means a lot! I have not yet attempted a pantoum, so I’m off to check yours out. I’m betting it’s more than “sort of” and that it will be a fabulous mentor text for me!
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Thanks for this beauty-filled aubade from sun, how well the two of you worked together–seems like it’s about really looking closer and deeper with appreciation…
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The looking closer piece is why I love photography so much. It makes me slow down and pay attention.
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Wow, Molly! I love the concept of advice from the sun and I enjoyed reading how you came to that idea. Writers always seem to be writing wherever they are, right? If you don’t have a notebook on hand, then your brain is writing in your mind, or thinking of ideas. Or, looking through your camera lens you think of words to go with the captured moment. Is that how it is for you? it is for me. All of your images capture beauty and powerful advice. It’s difficult to pick a favorite because they all spoke to me. I especially love “Bejewel the frosted grass and kindle a rich amber glow in the heart of a leaf-laden maple” because I love leaves and to think of the sun casting a glow in a maple leaf’s heart is magical, plus the word bejewel I can’t get out of my mind. I also especially love your ending “adversity of clouds may just be the perfect opportunity to create a spectacular scene” because I love watching clouds and how the sun paints them. Your photo is stunning! Thank you for both your amazing poetic advice and photo!
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, Gail. Photography definitely inspires my writing sometimes. I have so many images just waiting for a poem!
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Thank you for sharing this advice from the rising sun. It’s lovely from beginning to end. I love the patient heron–they are such amazing creatures! all the way through to the adversity of clouds. (And also the gorgeous photo.)
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Herons fascinate me. I’m always thrilled when I see one and can spend endless amounts of time watching them.
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Thanks for this affirmation. “Finally, don’t forget
to look on the bright side–
an adversity of clouds
may just be the perfect opportunity
to create a spectacular scene.”
It reminds of the John Lewis quote for our times.
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. We will find a way to make a way out of no way.”
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Thanks for sharing the John Lewis quote–it’s so powerful!
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Molly, this is rich, the idea of what Sun should create on its path. Each glow is also something a person should pause & notice as the Sun works magic. Your poem makes me think how can I be like the Sun & try to emulate the illumination Sun brings to a morning. It’s exquisite, this “Advice from the Rising Sun in Autumn.”
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Thanks so much, Jan. It’s fun to contemplate what advice different “things” or beings might give.
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