Monday, July 09, 2007

Moonlight Prayers

A boat in dock
collects more spider webs
than leaves do sunlight
on a hot July day.

Maybe, they’re attracted
to water as we are:
leaning into mother’s breast
when no other comfort will suffice.

They weave their moonlight prayers,
fragile tethers to nature’s pangs.
But, for the sweep of a black bristle broom
their fate would be a midnight feast.

19 comments:

Katie McKenna said...

We find spiders on the sailboat every time we go sailing... Moonlight prayers...I like that!

Anonymous said...

Most of us are lucky enough to have brooms to sweep the spiders away. Its when we neglect our moorings that we get into trouble.

Good one Pat!

EATING POETRY said...

Hmmm... spiderwebs! I hear there's a threat now worse. The little water bugs that use to eat wooden boats and docks before they vanished in the 1700's are back!

sage said...

nice poem--but it's a horrible thing for the bristles to wipe away the silk weaving of the spider...

Rax said...

this is a lovely concept. you have a way with language that makes a poem both beautiful and clear in its message and imagery.

I love this:
Maybe, they’re attracted
to water as we are:
leaning into mother’s breast
when no other comfort will suffice.

and the ending as well. excellent write

polona said...

they're attracted to bugs flying above water.
buti love your imagery, pat.
great write again

Janice Thomson said...

I love those lines too:
'leaning into mother’s breast
when no other comfort will suffice.'...this evokes such an awesome feeling. Good one Pat!

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Cool poem. Liked it a lot.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Wow, I'm still swaying with

They weave their moonlight prayers

Wow Pat! Such a fragile, tactile, shining moment in the hopeful, cool night glow.

This is why we write, isn't it!

Anonymous said...

Well woven. I especially like that last stanza, Pat!

trinitystar said...

love to look at spiders webs, how wonderful these little things are to manufacture such an intricate piece of art.

Anonymous said...

I so like those spider webs. I always wonder at the beauty of the creative nature of spiders.

Another good work of great imagery.

Borut said...

The ‘reader of poetry in me’ is having a summer siesta of sorts. I find it really difficult to get in contact with him!?:) I’m engaged in Moonlight Prayers – to wake him up! I’m Waiting for the Harvest…, with, for the time being, Small Results!?:)
Your last four poems summarise how I feel right now pretty well!?:)

Carol said...

It really is amazing to me how some write their diaries in a poem. Nice readin' too.

floots said...

great atmosphere and images
thanks pat

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

another good one --- keep them coming :)

dsnake1 said...

i like reading this aloud. :)

Anonymous said...

glorious lullaby tender as it rocks.

Liz said...

Paul, this is amazing. I've posted it on my site, with a pic...and linked it back to you. You are a novelist in miniature. Thank you.