Textures of Night

textures of night 
wrestle with the wind 
black on black
sway and bend
creaking of maples
with whistling leaves
sing with cicadas 
and an owl in a tree
a starless evening
buttons out all light
and honeysuckle perfume saturates the night

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

I love the rhyme and the vivid imagery of the black night, nothing to watch, everything to listen to, all the night sounds peak and draw you to a romantic eve.... I love the cicadas, they are mesmerizing even though they can be loud; I love "black on black" and "a starless evening".... just close our eyes and meditate....
Best, B

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you Betty. I love when you've been out long enough for your vision to adjust, and you can almost see. The world becomes layers if outlines penciled in black. Thank you for pulling up a chair and sharing the moment.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome!

[W. Barrett Munn]

Cherrie,

This has so much going for it. I'm no fan of end-rhyme. It's fine when used for purpose, like the last two lines in this poem, end rhyme helps hammer home those two lines. Syntax can disguise rhyme so it's not so obvious. Like the fourth line could be bend and sway. You still get the sonic connection with wind but it comes across in a more natural-sounding way. Line 8 the same way: you could also say: in a tree, an owl. By reducing end-rhyme early, the end-rhyme of the final couplet is emphasized.

You are such a talented poet, and I'm overstepping my bounds here, so I apologize if I go against your grain. I enjoy talking poetry, reading about it, and disassembling it to understand better its tools.
For all I know you were following a structure.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I always enjoy hearing the rhythm a writer gives to a piece.
Many a time I have heard something and thought - no not like that - and begin to write.
I appreciate your ear and ideas.

[red93]

Excellent Cherrie so subtle and wise how you have put this fine miniature together - sublime.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you Tony

[William Michael Reeves]

I like how the poem feels rhymed without rhyming. Except for the obvious one at the end. I guess in the night we need our other senses, and get heightened like you wrote. Feeling the wind, hearing the creaks and whistles and bugs, smelling the suckle and so blind in the dark we can taste the black! Nice!!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I enjoyed your descriptions of the night sounds. But as a matter of fact, cicadas are quiet at night, and thankfully, as they put up enough of a cacophony during the day. We have them here almost every summer. The nocturnal Tettigoniidae or "katydids" are not the same insect or species. But, my point is, you will never hear cicada at night. I did, however, enjoy the poem.

[Cherrie Palmer]

During mating season they will make noises at night. Even though they are mostly quiet at night.

[Patricia Wedel]

A beautiful Poem Cherrie... we have had such unusual Weather...
however; there is still poetry in the Wind and Rain... and Birds still fly over the Gardens and bathe in Rain Water. And we do the Same behind the Curtains. tenderly, Pat

[keith]

'sing with cicadas ' ... natures violinist
we called them katydids
'honeysuckle perfume ' ... lung saturating

we stood for hours pulling pistils to savor the sweet as treat
yeah you!

[Cherrie Palmer]

Yes of course. I thought all kids did.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Yes of course. Doesn't everyone:)

[lightsong]

Mysterious and still... and there in your line, You bring life to that stillness, joy to that mysterious night. Lovely like always~

[Lisasview]

Hi Cherrie,
Loved your poem.
I am crazy over the moon for one line in particular…
“A starless evening buttons out all light”
Fabulous words
Lisa, in the car as Bob drives

[Cherrie Palmer]

I played with that line for a minute or so. Finally I erased what I had. And, then, I knew what I wanted to say. What's even funnier I can't remember how the line use to read.
So, You kids are on the road again. :) Have fun and drive safely.

[Temperance]

smooth and rhythmic. I can hear the trees on a windy night. Ms. Cherrie, the imagery in this poem puts me right there in the middle of it. I can smell the honeysuckles and hear the cicadas. So very nicely done dear lady. Thank you for sharing. Temp

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you Temperance 😊
I wanted the passages of night just unfold. Layers each new line on the other.