Written in the morning, long before the day
sneaks in like an intruder, intent to have its say,
words born in the nighttime flower on their own,
bursting into bloom as soon as seeds are sown.
Truth is there behind us before it ever shows—
in words before they’re spoken, in wind before it blows.
Once recognized, I free these words to flow over the world—
off on their own to have a life wherever they’re unfurled.
Sent swiftly to their different spheres to live a life apart
from one who followed after, like a horse without its cart—
I like to set my words loose to canter on their own,
to feed upon wild grass that also roots where it has blown.
The Prompt: After an especially long and exhausting drive or flight, a grueling week at work, or a mind-numbing exam period — what’s the one thing you do to feel human again?
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Love this one! And again with the perfect last line.
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Thanks, Laura.
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i like this, Judy, like it a lot
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A pleasure to hear this approbation from someone as talented in writing as you are, John. I’m curious re/ where you live in Malaysia. I was there in 1967 and again in 1973. Things change so fast that I’m loathe to travel anywhere I traveled long ago. Plenty of other places to wander–the best being one’s own mind. Judy
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Very nice!
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Thanks, Cindy. It is always a gift to have your name pop up as having read my posts. I am so gratified that you are one of my faithful “regulars.” Judy
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What wonderful images…a lovely poem.
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Pingback: Daily Prompt: Back to Life | tnkerr-Writing Prompts and Practice
I think I can learn poems from you
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I’m glad you enjoy them…
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Pingback: Around the Mound | litadoolan
In light of our recent chit-chat about horses and drawing them, I loved the reference here to the horse feeding on the wild grass. The cart-less horse, that is. Very profound thoughts here…we have so very much inside us (poet, prose writer, artist, musician) and it is lovely when we’re able to access these gifts. You do. You do brilliantly, and yes, yours go all over the world, your fine words and photos…the I-net has made that dream come true. You don’t have to wait around to see if a literary mag. has decided to print you–but I want you to add that idea to your brain. You should be being (I love that; I’m tired. be being) printed in those magazines, if they still have them. Surely they do. In your first two stanzas here, I think I perceive that words actually come easily to you (as if I didn’t know.) That’s why your words are so natural, whether rhymed or not. There’s a deep truth behind all these and,as I said, such facility. You access the deepdeepdeep Judith within pretty handily.
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I know I should send stuff in and i have some poems submitted to The New Yorker. They are not their usual fare and I had a deep sense of embarrassment as soon as I hit the “Send” button. I don’t think most of what I write here is appropriate for anything other than a humor magazine and time is so short I just don’t take the time to research. I decided retirement would be the time I do what I wish and submissions and trying to find agents or publishers exhausts so much time I’d rather be writing. Same with promoting what I’ve published myself. Just keep putting it off. I did send in Sock Talk to the NY Times Children’s Book Editor. Cheeky, but why not? I will, however, consider what you say. If only I could just hire someone to do all this!!!! oxoxox
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