On a Candlemas Afternoon for the W3 prompt, Apr 6, 2025

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On a Candlemas Afternoon

Palm shadows of a lazy afternoon
brush over, but do not disturb
the sleeping dog who fills the pavement
in front of “Abarrotes Gloria.”
Under its dusty awning, on a bench
meant for  customers notably absent,
a sleep-nodding senora
with small crocheted animals  for sale
watches for anyone to stir the calm of this mid-afternoon.

Through one imperceptibly cracked-open eye,
she watches the long-skirted bead vendor
make her hourly crossing from the beach,
her tray still heavy
after five hours of trudging
under the sweating sun,
that eye only opening wider
as two young men on loud motorcycles
circle the plaza in Izod shirts
from the used clothing booth of the mercado,
leaving a tree-shaking breeze
that filters through shadows
to stir the fine hairs on her arm.

for: The W3 Poetry prompt

To see other poems to this prompt go HERE

10 thoughts on “On a Candlemas Afternoon for the W3 prompt, Apr 6, 2025”

  4. lesleyscoble's avatarlesleyscoble

    Judy, your monologue ‘On a Candlemas Afternoon” enfolds us in the quiet simplicity of a warm afternoon. The bench becomes a focal point where layers of your storytelling reveal life’s small moments. The careful observations of the senora (I’ve sat on many a bench outside a bar and ‘people watched’ just like this!). I love the languid pace and rhythm of your seamless narrative. The heavy-laden tray, the dog, the noisy motor bikes creating the “tree-shaking breeze / that filters through shadows / to stir the fine hairs on her arm”

    Absolutely wonderful! I shall enjoy reading this again. Bravo!

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