Isn't it appropriate that Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge is chirping up our Poetry Friday today since spring and our own robins are here now too? Thank you, Robyn!I've been reading bits of Quiet: The Power of Introverts In A World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I don't need to read it all at once, but enjoy much of what she's sharing. I've been back in a classroom full time this week, and am enjoying it. I had forgotten how much I loved the time with the kids, but also how much I needed the time alone after the day ends.
Savoring
Alone is delicious
I can eat the silence.
Piece by piece I pick it apart
and place it into my mouth.
I savor the quiet,
letting minutes
dribble
down
my chin.
I help myself to another plateful
of this delightful dessert,
bite into the delectable hours
and begin to chew.
Linda Baie
©All Rights Reserved
This metaphor is perfect, Linda! I also love to savor the silence at the end of the day. Glad you're enjoying your time back in the classroom. Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteThanks Catherine. It was fun to write. Happy Easter to you as well!
DeleteWhat a delightful poem, Linda! I, too, need my down time, so I really connect with your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane. Glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteI can eat the silence.
ReplyDeleteYes! This is how I feel, too - it takes a while for student chatter (which I love, too, for it's own self) to die down in my head before I can truly feel the deliciousness of silence. What an amazing poem, Linda!
Thanks Tara. Both the chatter and the silence are good things, I agree. Have a good weekend!
DeleteI am biting into silence today, too. I took a walk alone with my dog. I sat outside on the deck by the bayou. It is a beautiful day and silence is my dessert.
ReplyDeleteOh, your day sounds wonderful, Margaret. Happy to hear of your 'dessert' too!
DeleteLove the image of minutes dribbling down your chin (and now I'm yearning for a summer-ripened peach!) and eating the silence. Delightful poem, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThere was talk of peaches on our news lately, hoping that our recent freeze would not hurt them. And it didn't! Love thinking of them, Buffy!
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ReplyDeleteYum! What delectable images in your poem! I'm savoring silence, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you JoAnn. I am finally home from work, and enjoying reading poetry and comments, quietly!
DeleteLovely poem, Linda. I love the idea of fully savoring every moment. I've also read parts of Cain's book -- it's helped me understand my own introverted personality. Happy Easter weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe book is very interesting, isn't it? Thank you Jama. And have a happy Easter yourself!
DeleteLove! Great metaphor! Love the minutes dribbling down your chin!
ReplyDeleteThanks B.j. Hope you'll be able to dribble a bit yourself!
DeleteThis is why I get up early--I need to start the day with several mouthfuls of silence all to myself before I can listen well to others. Thx for reminding me about this book,Linda.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Heidi. All I've read in the book is illuminating! The early morning is a magical time.
DeleteSavoring the silence of alone...
ReplyDelete- sometimes I rush through it, not noticing, and then it isn't satisfying just like gulping food down.
Here's to delectable minutes. Thanks for this image, Linda!
Love your thoughts about sweeping through the time, not paying attention. and it is like gulping. Terrific to think about, Donna.
DeleteSilence... I can't deal with too much of pure silence.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that you are an extrovert, right, Bonnie? My son is, and does not need it like others in our family did.
DeleteI'm a fellow down-time/alone/space craver. Your poem expresses it beautifully! And something sweet, like dessert - and not all the time, but a necessary treat in the midst of busy days. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin, glad you enjoy that down-time/alone/space, too.
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ReplyDeleteWonderful poem. I really liked Quiet. I bought it for my introvert daughter, and ended up learning a lot about my introvert self, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth. It is worth reading, especially if one suspects those introvert traits.
DeleteHow beautiful, Linda. Silence I believe is a gift. Thank you for this offering - much needed in this universe of noise. :) You should publish your collection of poetry soon!
ReplyDeleteYou always make me feel inspired to do more, Myra. Thank you! And yes, silence, with maybe a few birds singing, is something to be grateful for.
DeleteOh yes, Linda, I can relate. Love the lines: "letting minutes dribble down my chin."
ReplyDeleteViolet N.
Thanks, Violet. I appreciate that you connect, too.
DeleteWhat an absolutely perfect metaphor. I'm so glad you helped yourself to another plateful. I loved the book Quiet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz, the book parts I've read have been good.
DeleteYou got this SO right! I keep plenty in my cupboard for frequent snacking!
ReplyDeleteOh, they're so good for you, too! Thank you, Mary Lee.
DeleteI love this metaphor, especially since quiet is a treat I look forward to and something I crave like chocolate!
ReplyDeleteThank you, another idea to consider, 'like chocolate'!
DeleteWhat a great topic for a poem, Linda! I haven't read "Quiet," but my older daughter liked it a lot. Mary Lee's comment made me smile :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tabatha. Yes, 'snacking' on quiet is a great image, isn't it?
DeleteI'm with everyone else: this is a gorgeous poem and your opening lines are so memorable. I hope you share this poem widely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janet. I'm happy you enjoyed it!
DeleteFinding quiet time is so hard to do. There's something special about those moments. You have captured how wonderful they can be….and even better when they include dessert (more time).
ReplyDeleteCathy
Oh, and love the visual arrangement of your lines.
DeleteCathy
Thanks Cathy. I know it can be hard to find, guess that's why it makes it so special.
DeleteLOVE this poem, Linda... such a "more-ish" dessert, dribbling minutes and all. Even as an introvert, sometimes it's difficult to quiet the chatter inside our own heads, don't you think? The cause of my insomnia, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is an idea for another poem, the chatter inside, Michelle. Yes, the thinking on many levels leaves me tired sometimes. Thank you!
DeleteMmmm, delicious Linda! Your poem captures the savoriness of alone time perfectly. = )
ReplyDelete