Two twenty-six
(a new moon night)
I stumble to the kitchen.
My flashlight plays
on unfamiliar surfaces,
creates images,
suggests invasion
by artifacts
unknown to me.
I fumble for the kettle.
Blue flames explode,
lick seductively.
Steeping chamomile
shares soothing
sleep-inducing scents
while I peek through
the blinds.
On the cul-de-sac
behind us
a street light spills
across the pavement.
Aside from that
the world lolls
in darkest stillness.
Alone, I sip my tea.
I sip solitude.
Thank you Claudia, at dVerse Meeting the Bar, for the prompt to write a poem in the manner of the Impressionistic Artists. Quick brush strokes, the play of light, and mood…move over Monet. I hope you will join us at the Poetry Pub and bring along your own masterpiece.
I think you did this well. I like the little flashes of description you give.
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Light and mood. In abundance. Beautiful, thank you.
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i like how all the different bits and pieces of the evening fit perfectly into the mood you set
foam
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You always end your poems with such a gentle punch: “I sip solitude.” That, my friend, is inspired!
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The best time of day when all the world is quiet. Inspirational forces at work.Reflecting, sipping tea listening to that inner voice.
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Being alone can be most rewarding! Solitude is a moment of stillness for inspiration. It can result in good productivity! Great write Victoria!
Hank
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There’s nothing like the feeling of aloneness in the middle of the night when you’re awake and it seems the whole world sleeps. Lovely capture.
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Emotion and image as one
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As a lover of tea and new moons viewed from quiet kitchens, this ticks all the boxes for me – feels very sensory and calm.
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The mood is perfect. Subtle goodness. I love the quietness of light, the street lamps and empty streets. Like this very very much!
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absolutely perfect response to the prompt!
♥
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An atmospheric conjuring of insomnia in the small hours. A powerful last line.
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Impressionism is the perfect way to show us this kind of ‘out of the mainstream’ moment, and you have achieved a wonderful poem.
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sipping solitude…love this victoria and so cool that you found the time to write..even though in the middle of the night…smiles.. i picture you like a painter, sitting in the half dark with the oil tubes next to you and capture not only what you see but what you feel as well
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Ah, I wish.
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Victoria, really well painted lines, love the progression throughout, really a fine illustration of the impressionist style here.
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i sip solitude…as lovely, and calm as it could be. loved your impression 🙂
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yum. you paint the scene with soft color and vivid light. impressionistic in all senses.
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Well it seems we’re having a similar experience in the middle of the night, Victoria. I know I have some chamomile tea here somewhere… Loved your impressions.
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Like this very much…well done ! “I sip solitude.”…wonderful triade of words.
Peace and love,
Siggi in Downeast Maine
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Your uniqueness glows through this poem in what and how you see: “suggests invasion” and “Blue flames explode, / lick seductively.” and
“Steeping chamomile
shares soothing
sleep-inducing scents” and the spill of light and
“Aside from that
the world lolls
in darkest stillness.”
I guess I just felt refreshed by the entire poem.
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I sip solitude. That is lovely. With six kids, I long for solitude.
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I adore the mood of this! Delicate, dark, and almost dreamy.
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A work in chiaroscuro – lights, shadow, solitude and a cup of tea. It has such a cosmic feel. I sense the universe in your cup.
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you used lighting magnificently in this, Victoria. The varying lights, their actions and intensities was so lovely to read. BTW, I finished Winter is Past this week. Enjoyed it so much. I like the author interview as well… Didn’t realize you were a nun for 28 years! (smiles)
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Solitude can be a very refreshing beverage. I love the mood here, and the images are all vivid, appealing to all the senses, not just the eyes. Possibly my favorite line is the flashlight, revealing “…invasion/by artifacts/unknown to me…”
Like the Cuisineart! ;_)
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in one sense that is a very peaceful moment, alone before the world awakes…but it can def be surreal before i get that cut of coffee….love the brilliant flame jumping to life in the dark and licking seductively at the pot…and that you included the scent as well…really nice victoria…
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Victoria….ah, a sleepless night. 2:26. I’ve been there too….chamomile tea seems a good solution, possibly sleep inducing, but at least it is something to do besides lie awake at such an hour. And yes, the whole world is dark and still; so peaceful, but it would be nice to be asleep. A beautifull impressionistic capture!
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Ahh…nice capture, Victoria. How quiet the street at that time, how “loud” the simplest of moves and “bright” the things we take for granted during the day, like the flames from the stove burner. I love the quiet solitude of that hour of the night!
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“I fumble for the kettle.
Blue flames explode,
lick seductively” –
that and, as daydreamertoo pointed out, the touch of the time : “Two twenty-six” –
and i thought “I sip solitude” sealed the late night waking in a way i could really see it 😉
nice, victoria, thank you 😉
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I raise my glass to sip solitude with you.
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This is an amazing write, it is so finely crafted.
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I love the precise stroke of the clock (Brush stroke pun intended) two twenty six … this whole poem has a lightness to it even though it’s halfway through the night. I love that the:
chamomile
shares soothing
sleep-inducing scents,. also you alone, sip solitude.
A gorgeous write Victoria.
You must have solved whatever the problem with Chrome was, I’m not getting that message anymore 🙂
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Yes, the problem was the Twitter “Follow Me” button. Now I’m afraid to put it back on!
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