Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My Island

By Joseph Hesch

The autumn rain lifted overnight,
and in the morning our road
seemed a seascape as I looked East,
a long black beach curving ahead of me.
The puddles were sun-mirrored tidal pools
surrounded by the final tossing
of russet shells from the oaks.
Above, a grand artist,
with wind-blown flourish,
had dry-brushed strokes of gray
over the white impastos He scattered
across a canvas of palest blue infinity.
And I, the sleepy suburban Crusoe,
breathed the sweet breeze of morning.

Oh, I’m as tired of writing sad, breast-beating, introspective poems as you probably are of reading them. So today, I went back to my initial source of inspiration. Pardon the pun, but I went back to Nature. My morning walks with Mollie almost always provided my groggy brain with some poetic fodder--shuffling little old men, honking geese, neon prisms of broken ice—but this one was as simple as it gets. I just looked at the road and sky and sucked in a breath of elation.
I decided to post this little poem for Week 10 of dVersePoet Pub’s Open Link Night. If you like to read poetry from a world-wide cast of verse wranglers, you really should pay a visit to the pub, where my friend and poetic fairy godmother Claudia Schoenfeld is in charge tonight. And don't be afraid to leave a comment here and there. Especially, well...here!
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32 comments:

  1. poetjanstieSeptember 27, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    So smooth, so cooling, so fluid, so readable, Joe. I love your poetry. This one still paints a lucid picture. Lovely language.

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  2. LouiseSeptember 27, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Beautiful, Joe ... just lovely.

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  3. Brian MillerSeptember 27, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    smiles. i think you did a beautiful job...nature is often an inspiration of mine as well...as i think it often painted with a masterstroke...thanks for capturing a bit of it for us...

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  4. BeachannySeptember 27, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    You walked and talked me through an autumn painting. I feel cool, stirred, refreshed. Thank you! G.

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    Loved the artist touches, I'm a big fan of the impasto technique.

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  6. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    When I read the title, I was wondering where it would go -> a) me all alone b) me no one understand me c) a parody of the hit TV show LOST?? So I stopped thinking, and read on. It's very sweet.

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  7. UnknownSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    amazingly vivid imagery, Joe! I love nature and this was a fantastic picture.

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  8. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    yes, 'a breath of elation'... you have passed it on beautifully. Do like how you use seemingly everyday language, but refine it somehow to produce a 'brush-stroked' work. Lovely.

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  9. TashtooSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    Thank you Joe...do I need to say more? Your pen turned to paint brush with write. Wonderful!

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  10. UnknownSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    And, it is as beautiful as ever, but never worry about writing too much sad. Everything comes in seasons, and I'll read it no matter :)

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  11. Jenne' R. Andrews September 27, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    This is indeed a shot in the arm and very beautifully expressed and crafted, Joe. xxxj

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  12. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    today, last week... your poems are always fresh

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  13. ClaudiaSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    when the grand artist,
    with wind-blown flourish,
    dry-brushes strokes of gray it makes me sing as well joe....you did a fabulous job, capturing the moment...

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  14. UnknownSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    it's the simple things in life most people crave ..loved this reflection on your environment ..thank you x

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  15. John Allen RichterSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    What an impressive beautiful little moment of your day! No breast beating here sir, entirely delightful and a fresh breath of "sweet morning breeze!"

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  16. Uneven StephenSeptember 27, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    How refreshing. Great poem, Joe.

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  17. Joanne Young ElliottSeptember 27, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Lovely. Autumn is my favorite season. Thank you for painting this picture of it.

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  18. TimoteoSeptember 27, 2011 at 6:31 PM

    Crusoe...the perfect touch.

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  19. Mark KerstetterSeptember 27, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    What a nice, fresh and vivid sketch - I can almost smell it. Seems like a hopeful Crusoe.

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  20. Ann LeFloreSeptember 27, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    i love my islands and it is paradise living on them. I can feel your islands and understand so much the feeling you add to this poem thanks for sharing
    http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/27/addiction-to-solitaire/#comment-1201

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  21. UnknownSeptember 27, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    I love the combination of art and nature imagery. It creates a gorgeous picture in my mind.

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  22. Cathy FeasterSeptember 27, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    well, your neighborhood sounds beautiful!

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  23. Ginny BrannanSeptember 27, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    Beautiful description of an Autumn morning. Can see the sun and passing clouds reflected in the puddles, smell the damp earth and feel the change in the air reflective of the season. A very refreshing verse indeed.

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  24. DivyaSeptember 28, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    This is very beautiful and smooth serene.. I like the way you bring the artists touch here,.

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  25. AphroditeSeptember 28, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    Joe, you've created such a landscape!
    "the sleepy suburban Crusoe" - oh, such an awesome line!

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  26. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I actually loved this part, "-shuffling little old men, honking geese, neon prisms of broken ice" from your author comment :)

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  27. mrs mediocritySeptember 28, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    This is so beautiful... you really painted a picture with your words, that, for me, is the best kind of poem.

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  28. joannaSeptember 28, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    There is such tranquility in this. You can truly paint a picture with words, my friend.

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  29. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Beautiful, well executed description.

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  30. UnknownSeptember 28, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    Perfectly capture it my friend! ~ Rose

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  31. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    A real breath of morning breeze!

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  32. ScarletSeptember 30, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    "breathed the sweet breeze of morning" - perfect ending.

    I like breathing in your words, including your comments in my blog. It makes my day :-)

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