Lullaby

[Hawkman]

Blinded by the night,
behind the billowing curtains,
my windows hide.
Gale-force sighs throw rain
like gravel at their panes,
seeking my attention, as a play-mate
or a lover would
but their entreaties leave me cold.

The fire’s seductive warmth
caresses drowsy senses
nodding in their favourite chair,
oblivious to the TV’s dancing frame
with its persistent drone.

In a while I’ll shut it down,
climb the stairs to bed
and there I’ll lie until I’m dead to the world.
Let the weather lull me into sleep;
for in its roaring is a seashell
held against the ear,
and the downpour on the slates
like waves,
breaking on the sand-man’s beach.

[PrinceMyshkin]

It's marvellous how this gathers strength from itself, mounting & mounting until that splendid last line where it meets and seemingly is defeated by its own force!

Some slight echo here of Arnold's "Dover Beach". Huzzah!

[cafolini]

One of the best.

[aliengirl]

Excellent one indeed. The poem begins forcefully like a billowing gale and as we come to the last lines it slows down, soothing our senses. Btw, in L3 of the second stanza who are nodding in "their" chair? Different persons or different senses of the same person? I conjured up a weird image of eyes, nose, ears, and tongue lolling on separate chairs. Lol!

[Haunted]

This is so good it makes me want to go back to bed and curl up for a nice long winter snooze.

[Hawkman]

Prince: Hi and thanks for reading, and for drawing my attention to the Arnold poem. I hadn't read it for a long time and now you mention it I can see what you are getting at. There is, perhaps, something of the cadence of Brighton Beach in my poem and one or two coincidental images. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

cafolini: Thanks for that, and for reading.

Ripley: Happy you liked it. I rather like the comical picture you drew from my words, but I was using 'senses' as a term for the consciousness which defines a person, rather than individually, like taste, touch sight, smell and hearing. :D

Haunted: Happy to help you hibernate, and I'm delighted you liked it so much. :)

Live and be well - H

[AuntShecky]

Despite, or maybe because of, the "homely" images this has a comforting, almost lyrical quality. With just a few tweaks to the meter (in just a few places) it could be sung to the well-known sleepytime melody by Brahms.

The only other change I'd make is to lose the cliché--"dead to the world,"
used way as description of a heavy dozer.

[Buh4Bee]

Bravo! Rolls off the tongue like a song!

[Delta40]

I know it's summer here but I felt I was snuggled up in an old armchair next to a warm fireplace in that half sleep state reading this.

[Jerrybaldy]

Dear Hawkman
I dont wish to worry you unduly, but as of late your poetry has bacome peculiarly accessible and identifiable to me. I would not like you to see this as a failing but merely a temporary merging that will come to pass as you start prattling on about birds again :) . Loved it . best wishes .
jerryB

[WolfLarsen]

I liked the power of the storm, something other posters liked too. I like powerful forces in a poem.

[Hawkman]

Auntie: thanks again for gracing one of my threads with your attention. I didn't actually have Brahms in mind while writing, and if we're thinking about the same tune, I think the necessary tweaks would rather detract from the intended cadence :D I actually like the cliche and employed it deliberately. sorry you don't though ;)

B4B: thanks, glad you like it :)

JB: Don't worry, old man, I forgive you your seasonal aberration :D I'm glad you can relate to it and found it enjoyable.

Wolf: Thank you too, glad it spoke to you.

Live long and prosper - H

[serveitup61]

I really loved this. It had a kind of gentle tone to it that makes me sleepy (in a good way). My one thought is, I personally like a more timeless approach, so the allusion to the TV may not have been included by me. Yet again, I think the poem was masterfully written and transcends any personal complaints I might have about it. Thanks for letting me read this

[Jack of Hearts]

That is a good sound, Hawk. Those are good sounds.







J

[Hawkman]

servitup61: Thanks, you're welcome and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks, Jack, always happy to provide a good sound or two...

Live and be well - H