is marsh birds
pouring over reeds
and a golden plover’s
rapid wing beats,
and the brief shadows
of small wavelets.
Today’s sermon is
a soft cacophony
drifting from trees,
cool air and moss.
Today’s sermon is
my willpower
disintegrating
into iced creaminess,
a swirl of sweetness,
a little thrill of pistachio.
Today’s sermon is
knitting a present
for my sister in a rich red
the colour of merlot.
Today’s sermon is
reading a poem,
a sermon for today
by somebody else.
Kim M. Russell, 11th December 2024

Image by Getty Images for Unsplash
It’s Wednesday, and over at What’s Going On? it’s time for Mary’s prompt, which is based on ‘Today’s Sermon’, a poem by Cheryl Dumesnil. Also linked to the dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night.
Mary asks us to reflect on what we could write using the title ‘Today’s Sermon’, thinking of everyday things, or things that are not so everyday, letting our minds wander, writing in short stanzas as the author does, and repeating the words ‘Today’s sermon’.
Thank you for the sermon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for reading and commenting, Willy!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like the idea of knitting in red merlot as a sermon, and the sermons nature presentsvif we listen.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Rebecca.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, this is so lovely, and lifted my heart. Just beautiful, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sherry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Message beautifully received. Thank you, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like this! Your poem leaves me with a warm feeling, Kim.
A few of my favorite lines are:
“Today’s sermon is
my willpower
disintegrating
into iced creaminess,”
I definitely understand THAT sermon!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Mary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your sermon is filled with lovely images. I love nature intertwined with life. The knitting and will power.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Truedessa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for pulling into the wonder of your everyday. It made me look around and appreciate mine more.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for joining me, Suzanne.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love this. Life and its rhythms sermonizing
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, VJ.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Welcome
LikeLiked by 2 people
soft cacophony…sounds comforting really…like reading a poem, a sermon written by someone else!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Rajani!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Today’s sermon isa soft cacophony”
Your poem places me right there! I love the gentle images and the red yarn.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Susan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely Kim. I am so in love with this kind of soft cacophony! Yet the will power’s story is extremely thought provoking. A beautiful blend of sight, sound and deep thoughts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sumana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mary Oliver’s got nothing on you, Kim.
Shay
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow! Thank you, Shay!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really enjoyed listening to the sermon Kim – the sounds of wings especially
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Laura!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fabulous prompt….and I LOVE what you’ve done with it!
“Today’s sermon is
my willpower
disintegrating
into iced creaminess,
a swirl of sweetness,
a little thrill of pistachio.’
These three stanzas are delectable!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Lill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those images you paint. It sounds so calming both in place and action.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Björn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sermon well received.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aren’t sermons sung, psalms? I want to put this to a celestial melody.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Lisa. It was be great if someone could!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Today’s sermon soft cacophony, I like that idea. A beautiful poem for the love of the simple things in life, a wonderful sermon for today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Dianne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a sermon I could sit through, my attention never wavering, for even a second.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Helen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a terrific sermon! Opening with marsh birds, you were preaching to the choir.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m delighted you liked it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Such a beautiful sermon, Kim–nature, and “iced creaminess,” and red knitting the color of merlot. 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
An exquisitely woven sermon, Kim! I especially admire; “Today’s sermon is a soft cacophony drifting from trees, cool air and moss.” ❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Sanaa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very creative write, Kim. I love what you did with this one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Dwight.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like this kind of sermon. You really took me some place.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Colleen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thoroughly enjoyed this Kim, and your reading today during “Live”. Very engaging and enriching ! And thank you for the wonderful greeting when I came online. I used to wield a tambourine back in my rock band days, so the jangle instantly stirred a warm memory in my soul — 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼🎼
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Rob. Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your sermon brings me smiles, asks me to let peace in, directs my eyes toward things that bring me joy. Thank you
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Susie, for reading and commenting. Merry Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Filled with life, love, color, sound, taste: this sermon exudes simple pleasure. Wonderful, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Dora. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same to you, Kim. I’ll be thinking about you enjoying the holidays with your grandkids!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Dora. Sadly, I won’t be seeing them. They spend Christmas with Ellen’s in-laws. However, I will be staying with them for a week in January while her husband is away for work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The New Year will be off to a great start! Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Dora!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person