I sit in darkness,
blanket-wrapped against damp chill.
Squawking gulls pierce my quiet,
spar over fish carcass washed ashore.
Dawn will present herself shortly,
streak sky angry crimson-orange
or smudge it gently in soft puffs of pastel pink.
How will she start my day?
Written for Quadrille Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Today I’m hosting and ask writers to include the word “present” or a form of the word, in the body of their quadrille, a poem of exactly 44 words sans title.
Photo taken at dawn in Cape Cod’s Provincetown some years ago. We treasure our annual two-week visit to Ptown. I often wrap up in a blanket on the deck, in that chilly dark time before the sun rises, hold a coffee cup in my hands to stay warm, and watch the day dawn over the ocean.
lillian the home poet 
Your poetry and photos “wow” me, Lillian…i appreciate your perspective (and prompt) on the present!
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Thank you Lynn, you are too kind!
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Dawn that is way too early for me at the moment (sunrise before 4 AM)… but it sounds nice to await it like that.
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Well…..it does get dark at about 9 PM when we’re in Ptown and sunrise is usually about 5:30 AM. I don’t get up for it every morning….but I do so love to when I can.
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How lovely the colors of dawn. This is my favorite time of the day. Thank you for hosting!
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Always enjoy hosting! In Ptown, the sunrises and the sunsets….or actually the moment right before the orb peeks up and before it disappears, are the most beautiful!
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Love this! Here’s hoping dawn comes in soft puffs of pastel pink 😍 Stunning write, Lillian ❤️❤️
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Thank you, Sanaa. And so fun to see you on Facetime today!
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Likewise! ❤️❤️❤️
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A pensive quadrille, Lill, with dawn beautifully presented. I love the juxtaposition of the squawking gulls sparring over a fish carcass and the colourful dawn. My dawn this morning was a red orb in an already blue sky.
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Truly, in Ptown, those moments right before the orb peeks up at dawn…and right before the sun totally dips away are the most beautiful. It’s like the sky is nature’s pallet (sp?). When we sit on the deck of the place we rent every year, if you look left, it’s the dawn, and if you look right it’s the sunset. It’s why we keep going back to the same place every year!
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I hope it is ‘soft puffs of pastel pink’!. A beautiful write, Lillian.
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So glad you enjoyed it!
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sat drooling over the photo for a while before reading your great words. amazing pic.
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So glad you enjoyed! I had a hard time picking the photo….I have others that show the pastel pink sky as well. It’s those moments actually, right before the orb appears or disappears that are the most beautiful. Here the clouds that seemed to meet the ocean, hid the dawning sun for a while making the coloring all the more dramatic!
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loved it
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My favorite time of day, even without the beach. Spectacular photo and beautiful descriptive poem, Lillian.
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Thank you, Merril! When we sit on the deck of the unit we rent every year, when you look left you see the dawn and when you look right you see the sunset. It’s why we keep going back to the same place every year….and as you can see, it’s literally right on the ocean. We’ll be there again in September.
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You’re welcome, Lill!
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Luv the skyworks at dawn. Happy Monday
Much💚love
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And happy Monday to you as well! I do love a good sun rise and sun set!
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Sounds like those moments you are totally in the present. Lovely quadrille, Lillian.
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Oh my yes….I just sit and marvel at the beauty!
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Beautiful either way.🌅☺️
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Exactly!
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Nothing could make you feel more present! Wonderful work, beautiful photo. And THANKS for the cool prompt, L!
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Thank you, Ron! We’ve rented the same place in Ptown for 25 years. It’s right on the ocean and sitting on the deck, when you look left, you watch the sun rise; and when you look right, you watch the sun set. We do love it there!
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“Red sky at morning … Sailors take warning! Looks like your are having a red sky day… if you can still see it through the smoky mist! Well done!
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Ah….am hoping those fires are resolved by September when we return to Provincetown. This photo was from some years ago. The moments before the sun shows itself, and right before it disappears….to me those are the most beautiful skies of all.
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Yes, they are gorgeous and constantly changing!
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You’ve painted an evocative picture, Lillian. Beautifully done!
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Thank you, Nicole. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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Lovely poem with a beautiful picture to match.
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You really capture the uncertainty that is the present and the idea that we observe but cannot control what is to come.
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Dawn will present herself shortly,
streak sky angry crimson-orange
So much fun to anticipate and wait for a new day. Love your wordcraft Lillian, especially creating expectations upon reading. Thanks for the prompt Ma’am!
Hank
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Sounds like a perfect moment by the sea! Love your photo as well.
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Must’ve been an amazing experience! Great poem and photo.
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Lil my friend…
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I’ll opt for the “smudges of pastel pink” if my vote counts. I thank you for the prompt, it generally is too cloudy around here for much more, old Sol has to burn his way past the Gulf’s thick clouds, about ten. I love seeing how the prompter uses his/her prompts. You never disappoint, thank you, I liked reading here.
..
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Every day starts anew. What will it bring? A powerful moment!
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You’ve made this moment timeless now, anticipation for the beauty of a new dawn. Beautiful poem.
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Oh! Watching the sunrise over the ocean! That’s the start already! Dawn is another gift
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You have painted the perfect work of art, dawn in all its glory.
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beautiful, Lillian ❤
~David
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Atmospheric! I like the detail of the gulls sparring over the dead fish!
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Beautiful imagery in this, Lillian!
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Spectacular photo that must bring back such comforting memories every time you see it.
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