As I drafted this post, it struck me that most of the poems I’ve written and shared recently seem to be a bit dark. Honestly, I don’t think they reflect my state of mind! With that disclaimer, I’m sharing my #Poemtober responses for “dizzy” and for “pattern.” As always, I’m grateful for the prompts and challenges that encourage me to write regularly.
buffeted by daily news
dizzy with dismay
hope hides in shadows
©Molly Hogan, 2019
One dull thud
Three wispy red feathers
pattern the smudged windowpane
one brilliant cardinal
dims and cools on the ground
the silence reverberates
©Molly Hogan, 2019
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by the gracious and talented Irene Latham at her blog, Live Your Poem. Make sure to drop by and fill up with some poetry!
Nix the comfort zone 
ooooooooh, the cardinal! I love the visit in your poem. Yes, beautiful silence is a gift. The giver a cardinal. Perfect. I’m sorry to say that I find hope more in the shadows these days as well. I’m trying. I agree with you that the prompts are so welcome. They keep me focused on producing “something,” even when writing is not at the top of my list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, sadly this cardinal’s silence was as a result of a window strike 😦
LikeLike
I like the contrast between the dull thud and the brilliant cardinal. So sad that the brilliance dims and cools…
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s something so sad about seeing a dead bird–that glory of flash and flight stilled.
LikeLike
I really love the cardinal poem. Recently I witnessed the life leaving a bird that thudded against my window. I later described it to our adult children, and one of them asked me why did I watch it so closely, those moments of death. I think, maybe, because of what you express in this poem. That beautiful bird deserved a witness. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was so saddened by the sight of that cardinal and the few feathers on the window. I think I saw your photo of the bird you mentioned–a brown thrasher, wasn’t it? Poor wee birds.
LikeLike
I had a bird crash into my window recently. I immediately looked up what to do. Unfortunately I didn’t save him. I haven’t written about it yet. Just too sad. Yours is a beautiful elegy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is so sad. I know there are things I can do to diminish the likelihood of window strikes, and I need to look into doing them.
LikeLike
Just before I read your cardinal poem, I heard a thud on the window. I feel sorry for the stunned bird. And “dizzy with dismay” describes me perfectly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope your stunned bird took flight after it recovered, Jama!
LikeLike
I don’t have a big window anymore, but had a few birds ‘thud’ at my other home on sliding glass doors. I guess your cardinal lament touched all of us. That ‘dims’ and ‘silence reverberates’ tells all. I also like “hope lies in shadows”, truth well written, Molly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The irony is that I love my big windows because I can so easily watch the birds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Molly – such powerful poems, both. –“dims and cools” is an amazing line. Yours in the dizziness, keeping an eye out for that glimmer of hope, hiding…. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The cardinal poem takes my breath away… but not in the way that that poor bird had his breath taken away. Poor thing. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both are lovely. The first one really resonated with me. I’m hanging on to that hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too!
LikeLike
Prompts and challenges often help me, too. Your recent poems have been really powerful, Molly, and these two are no exception. My heart hurts for your brilliant, silent cardinal, but I love the idea that “hope hides in shadows.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Catherine. Hope sure can be hard to spot sometimes!
LikeLike
“hope hides in shadows” – I think the beautiful thing is that it still is there, albeit hiding somewhere. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your poems! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
LikeLike
I also love the line “hope hides in shadows” And your cardinal poem is beautiful and sad.
I also love prompts and challenges to keep me going. Next year–poemtober/inktober!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prompts and challenges are so helpful, especially when my schedule seems overwhelming. Somehow responding to a prompt, or trying to do so, seems much less daunting than finding a block of writing time. Also, I’m often surprised by what emerges!
LikeLike