Measuring Time

When the whole world measured time
in light and dark, descent and climb,
civilisation was still new
my child, an infant just like you.
One drab June, we wandered ancient grounds,
round rain-soaked prehistoric mounds,
counting a nursery rhyme of stones.
We imagined thousands of dawns
and shadows pierced by shafts of light –
the zenith reached on midsummer night.

the solstice cycle
freewheels through hot summer days
brakes into darkness

Kim M. Russell, 21st June 2018

Image result for free images paintings and artwork of Stonehenge Pinterest
J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851), “Stonehenge at Daybreak” 

My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar: Couplets for the Solstice

Today is the summer solstice and Frank would like us to write couplets for the solstice, which links back to a similar prompt from 2011 by Gay Reiser Cannon.

Frank reminds us that it’s that time of year again, when the Sun’s trending to either its highest or its lowest position in the sky is achieved and then the trend will reverse: long days will become shorter; shorter nights will become longer – or the opposite depending on where we are on the Earth.

Frank says that day and night, two things interacting with each other, remind him of couplets, a very common and simple poetic form.

So our challenge today is to write one or more couplets optionally about the solstice. I’ve taken some old poems and reworked them into a  couplet haibun.

28 thoughts on “Measuring Time”

  11. kaykuala

    One drab June, we wandered ancient grounds,
    round rain-soaked prehistoric mounds,
    counting a nursery rhyme of stones.
    We imagined thousands of dawns

    Such is the draw of Stonehenge to welcome thousands annually despite perhaps being drab for the day

    Hank

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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