Contemplation, gift of the night.
Moonlight glazes the sea.
Gone are those wild waves of yesterday
when nature caroused to youth’s delight.
Evening’s darkness, a quiet scene
dressed in shades of ebony.
I hear the sea’s symphonic hush as midnight nears.
So many questions come to mind,
most unanswerable by humankind.
Why should not the water
find delight in the floral fragrance
of its own rippled surface?
My scent commingles with the sea’s.
My toes curl, touching her lapping edge.
Her ripples ebb and flow so slowly,
shine in gentle arcs of lunar light.
Mesmerized, I begin to understand.
Yes, time seems shorter now
ending chapters closer,
looming large like tonight’s full moon.
Energy disipated, still beautiful
in this later monochromatic scene.
I’ve come to contemplate the night
and take my leave thanking the sea.
Quietly I begin the walk home,
sensing the rippled surface I leave behind,
and I smile.
Written for Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. Today we are asked to let our imaginations become a springboard to the mystical/sacred and use one of eight fragments from the mystic poets. I’ve chosen “Why should not the water find delight in the floral fragrance of its own rippled surface?” (Jnanadev) Photo taken while on our last cruise, well before the age of Covid.
lillian the home poet 
Lovely the whole rippling imagery in your lines Lillian that fit the quote so well and that existential interjection you slid in:
“Mesmerized, I begin to understand.
Yes, time seems shorter now
ending chapters closer,”
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So glad you enjoyed, Laura!
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You make me want to go out and sit by the water… if it wasn’t so dark and cold…but the ripples are fascinating to watch…
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There is peace and acceptance here that brings peace in its reading. Your photo is magnificent, Lillian.
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I had to take a spade to the water in the birdbath today because it was frozen solid …. and I’m dreaming of your ripples and waves and warm nights. Bliss.
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I have set by a tarn in moonlight at the hour of the wolf, but never the sea. Tides do not respect idlers and dreamers, and too soon in the darkness salt water drowns my boots.
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“I hear the sea’s symphonic hush as midnight nears.,”… sigh .. this is such a breathtakingly beautiful poem, Lillian! 💝💝
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Ah, such peace here Lillian. And I absolutely love your opening line! “ Contemplation, gift of the night.” Brilliant perspective.
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Breathtaking, serene, and powerful. Such a brilliant poem.
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Your piece is as breathtaking as the image, Lillian.
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What a gift of time to contemplate and see those waves rippling back and forth, under the moonlight. Time seems so shorter now, I agree. The night sea imagery is beautiful.
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There’s a lovely sensuality to this lyric – ‘symphonic hush’, ‘ripples ebb and flow so slowly’ – it’s the quiet sea on a warm dark night at the end of time. Delish.
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I used to enjoy the monochromatic beauty of the coast every night when we lived by the sea back in the nineties – it is indeed a gift. You have written a peacefully breath-taking poem, Lill, that brings it back, warms my heart on a cold rainy day. I love the phrase ‘a quiet scene / dressed in shades of ebony’ and the capturing of sound in ‘the sea’s symphonic hush’ and the sensual image of the lines:
‘My scent commingles with the sea’s.
My toes curl, touching her lapping edge.
Her ripples ebb and flow so slowly,
shine in gentle arcs of lunar light.’
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This is so full of peace, serenity and gratitude: all so important to be happy with one’s lot in life and look back on it smiling.
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The water delights itself and also us. Such healing words. (K)
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This is absolutely beautiful. I love the sea and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to be there in the moonlight. You have taken me there very successfully, not to mention, magically.
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Your love for the sea – I’ve seen it in many of your posts – comes through in the subtlety of this contemplation.
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The tides and the waves will be there long after we’ve gone, dancing in the moonlight long after we’ve gone home.
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Very beautifully composed poetry ❤
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Such a glorious and peaceful photo, accompanied by a lovely poem, serene and pleasant to read.
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a true poetic contemplation … I felt like I was there with you!
“time seems shorter now
ending chapters closer,
looming large like tonight’s full moon.”
facing this reality gives us peace on our journey …
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I’ve come to contemplate the night
and take my leave thanking the sea.
Quietly I begin the walk home
Such a feeling of fulfillment that brings to oneself through the night still hearing the melodious lapping of the waves. Beautiful wordcraft Lillian!
Hank
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“Contemplation, gift of the night.” I’ve found that to be true, too. Lovely the whole beautiful poem
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I found your piece fascinating …..
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