The Drought
Clouds drift along in the blue-grey sky,
Words and phrases obscuring the sun.
Drifting in and out of my consciousness,
Not wanting to be captured on paper.
I am like the earth and sky
Seeking balance between rain and drought.
My heart knows when
It will be time to come home again.
Distracted at present-
A monarch floats into my line of sight,
While a hummingbird peeks through the window
To see only its reflection against the vast darkness.
For now I am content
To let the words drift among the clouds.
Soon enough they will meld into a storm, and
Rain down freely again, singing on the page.
©Donna Donabella 2018
__________________________________________________________
This is a poem that was started a few year’s ago, and like the poem says, it drifted in and out of my consciousness until it fully formed recently. Poetry can come easily or be a bit elusive….but I don’t obsess about it. I keep a journal of phrases, lines, ideas, and revisit them until they decide to rain down fully into a poem.
I am joining in with Poets United for their weekly poetry link up for poets who blog.
__________________________________________________________
I leave you with a few additional words about The Drought. I welcome you to download the photo and share it.
All other photos and original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Living From Happiness, 2014-2018. Any reprints or use of other photos or content is by permission only.
Such beautiful lines, Donna, especially the stanza you highlighted on the artwork. A great metaphor for life and creativity, drifting in & out, but when inspiration strikes, it all comes together beautifully as it’s meant to be.
Thank you so much for your lovely words dear Loredana! I love how you have interpreted the poem.
Such a delightful read, beautiful calming words much like a bedtime story for adults!
Robin your comment has brought me big smiles and a glad heart! Thank you….
I abdolutely love the hope that breathes through this poem especially; “I am like the earth and sky seeking balance between rain and drought. My heart knows when it will be time to come home again.”
Yes those were especially emotional lines for me and meant something deep stirring within….so happy you liked the poem Sanaa!
Where would we be without our poetry journals? Words I’ve written down there sometimes sit for years until I find the perfect place for them. I loved your poem, especially that last stanza! Beautiful.
Thanks so much Sherri. Yes our journals are a perfect repository for our thoughts. They are fun to revisit from time to time.
This is beautiful. I especially love the second stanza.
Thank you Sherry…that stanza was so freeing as I wrote it!
A lovely poem. We pray, dance and look to the sky, in hope of rain.
Thank you. Yes rain is sacred in so many ways.
This has the kindred feel to the poem I posted today. I like thinking about a drought of words and writing is elemental. We have to wait for that downpour, or even a sprinkle.
Yes I did feel a kindred spirit with your poem today….especially as you wrote about being silent and listening more.
I agree with your philosophy. Droughts are what we all experience sometime with writing poetry. We have to ‘go with the flow’
and know that, just like when there are times of drought in nature, eventually the rain/ words will flow again! I enjoy your writing.
Thank you so much Mary. That means a lot to me.
I love this, especially your last line!
Thanks Jo….it was an emotional ending for me and I loved the use of rain for it.
A monarch and a hummingbird? I would be distracted too. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say I was absorbing the beauty. Which is necessary for any writer.
Words need seeds too. And fertile soil.
Wise words Soosie! Thanks!
Oh yes, the elusiveness of the finished article, I like the contrast between drought and rain in relation to poetry.
Thanks Julian….it just felt right when I wrote that line.
Lovely. We are in drought mode here but the creek at the foot of the drive is still full and gurgle and all is green and lush. the last stanza is excellent and inspiring. We go through times of dryness in writing, in love, in life…but the rains come and wash it all always leaving things fresh and new. Most inspiring. I do not keep a poetry journal except in my head!
Thank you. You put it so beautifully about when the rain comes. I am always amazed at the different ways we each write and keep our poetry.
there was a certain calmness to this… nicely done
Thank you Robert!
Well said! And not an entirely unrelieved drought, when you are visited by monarch and hummingbird. 🙂 It’s good that you trust your heart’s knowing.
It has been a long time to learn to trust my heart….
This piece really resonates with me. And that closing stanza – WOW – it is both – so visual AND visceral – I can literally feel the ‘inspiration’ stirring.
Oh I am happy this resonated with you Wendy! Yes that closing was very inspirational for me too!
let nature takes its course, and at the same time enjoy the butterflies and hummingbirds. 🙂
i do keep a journal of phrases or quotes that bounces into my mind, and sometimes i link some of these lines together and some shapes appear. and i will revisit these scrawls again and again. i find it a good source to start a poem when i have run out of ideas.
Sounds like a great creative process.
“..For now I am content to let the words drift among the clouds…..” I love these words. Great imagery :)”
Thank you Vivian!
Love the thought of words and phrases obscuring the sun… sometimes we grope in the dark of our own words, don’t we!
Exactly we sure do at times.
Words drifting in the clouds….I love this poem.
Oh I am so pleased! Thank you!
“…My heart knows when / It will be time to come home again.” Oh, I love this line. I’ve been there, but I’ve never heard it put so well.
Oh that pleases me Sarah. So happy you liked it.
That second stanza is just gorgeous!
Thank you. That means so much to me to have you say so!