© The Questor Project © 'On Sunrises'
Serpentine sunrises and twilights with a muse of Urania and Euterpe.
(1)
While body held contention with the lake,
Swapped rhythmic crawl with breast stroke each way take.
I there did calculate that, as complete
Arithmetic and elegance aesthete.
The sum distance be one mile in total,
There sub-divided segments eight in all.
Each of precise two hundred twenty yards,
Halved by coincidence; ends with bollards.
Such length's segment differed thus; one to'ards east
And t'other contrary looks to the west
Thus turned it out, what long had seen sunset,
Farthest from dawn and seeming gloom beset.
Whereas to the east regards the sunrise,
Whose pleasure utmost favour gave mine eyes.
(2)
Each night's dark mantle's daily constant wear,
By Nova pierc'ed 'tween twilights mending
Two rival spheres came argue daily there,
Heat cold exchanging, tides ebb and flowing.
Pale tardy Moon bows to'ard blood hasty Sun
Deep red doth wax gold, heralds dawn of day.
Twin lights by first patrol- men's day begun,
Autumnal mile long swim gives pause to stay.
Unnoticed; passed they gently rolling by
Observed with caution in a stealthy ease.
When first Sun shafts, blow kisses birds that fly
And warm long shadows hung from topmost trees.
My mind did gently hear that sound which lies
Outside the window whose perception ties.
(3)
Next Sunday slightly late did I awake,
A four foot mist sat; two, above the lake.
The red rimmed gold flat disk hung motionless;
As shines a pendant, 'gainst the nothingness
Of distant bust in alabastrine white,
On torsoed planet brown green, blue bathed light.
Grounded at lakes edge dozed all host that flew,
Quiet daily waiting their warmth renew.
That moment pure, of stillness muse allay
Eternity my head and heart did sway.
Yet time and motion body does proceed;
While image held assay 'gainst mind recede.
At once when water cold did contact make,
Motion, mind and form jointly did awake.
(4)
I turned my back on navy dark; eastward,
Beholding orange, yellow, turquoise, blue.
Against smalt blue, slim crescent white, downward
Shone with dignified watch at distant hue.
In briefest seeming time, blue much had paled
Full face, flush with bright orange striations.
As 'twere skiers with candy floss had trailed,
O'er heaven's wind traversing dilations.
With a momentary revelation,
The Fiery dragon woke, whose glance did trim
That former watch by heat dissolution.
Where in quick haste did he set sail and dim;
By well trained obsequies perorated.
Avoidance seeming too much belated.
(5)
With dawn's twilight, there arrived I next day,
Very like the equinoxes; high tide
Or low. With comparèd stillness, you may
Feel, before sunrise and sunset betide.
A resting inert happy medium,
Between the equals of external force,
Where, doth unchanging equilibrium
Fill, expectant air with wisdom's discourse.
Combinèd with such sight, attent to muse,
Of lake cold, yet colder than stillèd air
Enforcing water, air, with mist to fuse,
Stillness with exchange, laid diffusèd bare.
Such quiescent chemistry, doth both give
And take; to mind, eternal perspective.
(6)
Hold, let ' s call that back! where stillness doth time's
Sense affect. And movement times' meaning give.
The less change be observed; more time's length climbs,
'Til all is still, and time's the fugitive.
Let me gently; conjecture your's arouse,
That in a world where perfect still there be;
There as observer, you may so espouse,
Concept that ‘no movement’ is there to see.
Bereft of evidence to measure this,
Your mind, unknows what is comparison.
That this was here; past, there, or e'en amiss.
Aside ' This is this ' all else abandon.
Here; essence touch you, of eternity.
Gaps millenary; 'tween thoughts endlessly.
(7)
Reason much, why still moments grasp the mind
In mystery? When disrobed custom's veil,
Doth leave for instant; all that moves, behind.
'Till attent's calm focus; abate, and bail.
When next; perceive you motion, consider
Apex, to or from, doth it move and when.
Stand in sea, feel tide's force, and senses blur,
Chasing tide's high and low; then, still again.
So doth twilights in such similar ways,
Bring upon us these reflection's many.
For in still, silent instant, mind amaze,
And acquaint with God's perspect uncanny.
When motion be at rest within. Then minds
Observe where, clarity and meaning binds.
(8)
Now let conjecture yours, go back to sleep,
As you re-enter world particular.
Where all things to all senses, in do leap,
And comfort, mind's thoughts be insular.
Aforesaid reckoned, Water, Air and Mist,
Be fused. In distance, Sun's dawn did 'gin to break.
All still. When mighty force as alchemist;
Of heat and light, this chemistry awake.
As mist did gently lift like memories,
Soon forgot. And horizon far away,
Did change red-grey curtain, 'gainst sky turquoise,
When all of sudden, Golden shafts did eye
The trees behind, where light and heat, did sound
Death knell to dew, astride all plants aground.
(9)
Twilight's high summit being over; came,
Full force in allegro agitato.
As Chopin's Fantasie 'gan to play game,
With all that lived in sempre legato.
Hosts of living things, stood attent at fire,
In heaven, which did 'gin to rage and tear.
Thus by force control it took. To aquire
Crescendo like; while to'ards height did it bear
Up, on journey pre-ordained in times past.
Moderato cantabile; it ran,
Reaching apex, piu lento and steadfast,
Then repeat allegro agitato began.
To'ards Sunset's twilight in came it to rest,
While giving Moon the space of night's celest.
(10)
As Sunset's twilight dimmed ' Moonlight's ' introit,
With movement adagio sostenuto.
Due space of time The Master's skill adroit,
Ascending cantabile a tempo.
When night did thicken to'ards midnights' apex,
The crescendo stamped his authority.
Shining, bright 'gainst darkest adversity.
With point highest made, stars chorus augment,
Moving decrescendo to'ards finalè.
Pianissimo began all host' descent,
Exèúnt, fearing Sun's antipathy.
All this in time doth mayfly live a life,
Eternity's billionth second of strife.
(9)
Twilight's high summit being over; came,
Full force as most brisk and agitated.
As Chopin's Fantasie 'gan to play game,
With all that lived throughout smooth related.
Hosts of living things, stood attent at fire,
In heaven, which did 'gin to rage and tear.
Thus by force control it took. To aquire
Increasing loud; while to'ards height did it bear
Up, on journey pre-ordained in times past.
Moderately flowing towards, it ran,
Reaching apex, more slowly and steadfast,
To repeat brisk and agitate began.
To'ards Sunset's twilight in came it to rest,
While giving Moon the space of night's celest.
(10)
As Sunset's twilight dimmed ‘Moonlight's’ intrance,
With movement that was sustained at leisure.
Due space of time The Master's skill entrance,
Ascending flows at pace, point to measure.
When night did thicken to'ards midnights’ apex,
A forced volume stamped His authority.
Who's sphere be greatest of the ' B's '; reflex
Shining, bright 'gainst darkest adversity.
With point highest made; stars chorus augment,
Moving decreasingly to'ards play’s last scene.
Very softly began all host' descent,
Exèúnt, fearing Sun's wrath intervene.
All this in time doth mayfly live a life,
Eternity's billionth second of strife.
Comment:
The final stanzas 9 and 10 are replicated.
The competition rules state the poems must be in the English language.
The use of musical terms as they would appear on standard scores, being strictly Italian might perhaps infringe these rules, and have been translated to their equivalent English forms.
The proper forms, Italian, might be for the purist, but it is a matter of taste. Should they be unacceptable, please replace them with the alternative provided and dispose of the unwanted.
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Tween soltice summers winters even
Lies equinoxes stillness equal even
Like middays midnights equal even.
Lies twilights near to dawn and sunsets.
Twilight’s best for contemplation,
Midnight rest and midday aggravation.