Moonlight shimmers softly.
Snowfall recently ceased, shrouds trees,
covers small town’s street.
Traffic absent save one car’s tell-tale tracks.
Owner, probably settled in reading,
nods off by flickering fire.
Lone man savors silence walking slowly.
Two dogs on extended leash,
content with no distractions
pause only to sniff the cold.
Winter’s quiet stillness reverberates
in late hours of this night.
I’m hosting OLN at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Open Link Night means writers can post any one poem of their choice: no required format, rhyme scheme, topic or length OR they can write to the optional prompt I’ve given. The optional prompt? To write a poem motivated by the painting above, entitled Hushed And Still by artist Simie Maryles. The scene is representative of Provincetown, MA on the very tip of Cape Cod.
To learn more about Simie Maryles and see more of her paintings go to https://simiemaryles.com/artist/simie-maryles NOTE: writers only have permission to use Hushed and Still for their poetry.
lillian the home poet 
I love how new fallen snow absorbs sound, so the whole world is stuffed with cotton. Very evocative write.
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…so the whole world is stuffed with cotton…a very poetic sentence! LOVE your comment here!
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This is exquisitely drawn, Lil! I especially love; “Traffic absent save one car’s tell-tale tracks.” 😍
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Thank you, Sanaa!
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Ekphrasteriffically rendered Lillian! Congrats, and thanks for hosting
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Always happy to tend the pub. Glad you liked the poem!
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the contentment of the dogs encapsulates the stillness
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I love the stillness of the painting….and yes the dogs….note they’re not straining at their leash…their paws are resting in the snow…standing still. We have a painting of hers that is very similar to this one.
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All the suggested motion and placement in the lines make the moment “reverberate” with stillness.
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So glad you enjoyed it, Brendan. Yes indeed….stillness can make quite a noise 🙂
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A wonderful capture of the artwork. I do like to walk in the silence after a snowstorm. There is a sense of peacefulness and beauty in the new fallen snow.
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You captured the painting perfectly and I love the line “Traffic absent save one car’s tell-tale tracks.”
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A beautiful capture of this painting, Lillian. Enjoy the sunshine!
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I love how the stillness reverberates! Thanks for hosting, Lillian, and please thank your friend for sharing her lovely painting with us 🙂
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You paint a gentle, peaceful scene. Thank you.
Re OLN-Live: it falls at 2am for me so I must post an apology.
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“Snowfall recently ceased” … captures the hush perfectly. ❤
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That’s absolutely beautiful!
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Lillian,
Thank you for hosting and for sharing this lovely artwork. This line speaks to me as I am someone who savors walking in a place of silence. Lone man savors silence walking slowly.
Wishing you peace,
Ali
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Atmospheric–a lovely ekphrastic, Lillian. Thank you again for introducing us to Simie Maryles beautiful work.
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