From mid-autumn until the end of winter,
each day begins and ends with night,
not morning’s gentle lightening or splinter
of tea-time twilight, although sunset
still kaleidoscopes in clear October skies.
We live from day to day: wake up,
rise and read about incessant lies
over the rim of a tea or coffee cup.
Then it’s time to catch a bus or train,
ignoring nature’s handiwork
as we battle against wind and rain,
or nose like moles through mist and murk,
missing frost-silvered cobwebs on the gate,
hurrying because we’re running late.
Kim M. Russell, 9th October 2019
My response to Poets United Midweek Motif: Everyday Living , revisiting this post a year later for earthweal open link weekend. A reminder of life before the pandemic.
This week Sumana has chosen ‘everyday living’ as our motif.
writing in north norfolk 
Each day begins and ends with night……..the season of indoor pleasures, when I turn into a hibernating bear! Smiles.
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🙂
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Great title. I’m getting the point lately, after years of running late. Good, good.
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Smiles.
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I hate getting up when it is dark. But in the winter I do it anyway. I help my husband get off to work. Sometimes I go back to bed – but then I am retired! LOL
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I’m always up early, but I can never go back to bed, unless I’m ill. It’s nice to know I could if I wanted to!
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LOL. I am sometimes very lazy. I worked so hard for so many years and did the early up routine, that when I can, I like to go back and read a bit before my day begins.
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I did that when I first retired, reading in bed when my husband had left for work. It was a guilty pleasure!
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Running late. I know the feeling well. I’m sure I’ll be late for my own funeral.
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🙂
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Lushly sonnetized, Kim. Wonderful work. Esp enjoyed the closing 6 lines. Envious.
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Thank you, Ron!
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Curiously my first ever job was a part time postman before Christmas (when extra hands were needed) delivering mail which meant staring at breaking dawn and finishing in the dark and not haveing any daytime of my own. When I finally got a proper job I made sure it wasn’t a night shift!
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Postmen and milkmen – bless them!
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The light is what wakes me, so winter is hard. I feel like I have to cram everything into the daylight hours too. The older I get the harder it is. (K)
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I just have trouble staying asleep!
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I don’t sleep well either. But I’m used to it.
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Oh, I’ve hurried far too often – a poem to make us reflect on what is important!
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That was me before I retired. I prefer the slower pace now.
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My daily battle..always running late. I love this poem!
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Thank you, Jeannette!
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I love the imagery in this poem – and the sense of finding something magical and reassuring in the everyday
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Thank you, Jae.
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I can’t wait to stop hurrying! My life is full of
churning wheels and ‘to do’ lists!
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You’re a bit of a whirlwind, Viv!
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Day to day. Always running late. Forgetting to take it all in. This reminded me to break free.
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Thanks Rob!
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It’s hard to believe we ever managed at all let alone noticing the dew drops on a spiders web…I was lucky to notice if I was wearing matching shoes:) So sorry you have not experienced the incomparable luxury of sleeping in especially on a dark winter’s morning…bed is my greatest luxury and comsolation. Sleeping is the thing i do best.:)
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😊
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I love how you worked with dark and light imagery in this one, Kim! 🙂
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Thanks Frank! 😊 I should be back to post more poems next week.
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You capture the feeling of winter – cold weather, resistance to going out……winter makes me really enjoy my time of life, when I dont have to!!!!!
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I hope to get out for a long walk on Tuesday and enjoy autumn in the woods.
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I love this tidy little door to gorgeousness! The sidhe is always here … Brendan
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Cheers Brendan!
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I love this, Kim: how we miss the beauty all around us because we are too absorbed in the daily struggle! Beautifully written.
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Thank you, Ingrid!
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