Something in the Air

 

Something in the Air

 

Somewhere beyond these

harbour walls

Behind all those redundant

Masts

and summer tourist clutter

The sound of

once returning fishing boats

now moored

do still idle, cough and splutter

Yet,

in candled windows shuttered

and

in shadowed doorways yonder

All the widows huddle, knitting

tablecloths and folding curtains

Now,

they just embroider face masks

and hand crochet, these oh’ so

very silly

 

pointless doilies

while the old men sit in semi-circles

around their

half empty wooden tables

Playing cards and telling stories

There must be something,

surely in the air, they chorused ...

 

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! very poignant ... pulls me into the scene .. love the harbor .. the old fishing vessels .. old men chewing the fat where perhaps market tables once were thriving .. love the curtains .. stunning says i! such sad and true irony in the closing two lines ... they are looking for hope ... on spring breezes perhaps .. yet something is in the air Nev ... so tragically sad ... well done .. there is scene, characters, emotions and heart rending social comment .. my first read this morning my friend .. glad I did not miss this!
E.
ps. we will make it through all this "stuff" ... i am sure of it .. in fact .. i see us as already making our way through ... the ongoing changing nature of covid seems to stymie our noodles but the "letting go" may be the most important thing in its lessons :( love on ya brother!

[Neville]

wow indeed... I'm gobsmacked as we say over here, tho ever so occasionally these days.. Many humungous thank you's Gene and back at ya BIG time :)))

N

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Neville... you are the Ultimate Poet.
I can sit around a Pot-bellied Stove and listen to your Prose.
A Year later... and still... we feel the Chill of Autumn in the Air
when Bluebells linger while making Pumpkins Pies for those
who tremble with a Thimble... making Masks for Winter. gently, Pat

[Papaya]

The scene is a wonderful snapshot of our current state.

[Neville]

,,,,,,,,,,,,, thank you kindly Ana .. stay safe :)

[Papaya]

Welcome. You too, N. :)

[barleygirl]

I love this poem. Vivid imagery for all the senses. Since I grew up next to a recreational lake, I relate to the comparison between the transitory tourist scene & those who live in places like this. I imagine those living on their boats & those who use their boats to make a living, & so I love the way you show this "behind-the-tourist-scene" glimpse of a harbor with rich, homey details (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

Now ya just dun gone and spoilt me good n proper Margie (GLIMs) Nevly x

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Neville... a very brilliant deeply enchanting
coverage of being sequestered in a cottage where
waves crashing can be heard and fishing boats that cough and sputter.
The "fever" has reached a point where one must muster the
courage to perhaps have a splash in the Ocean where clusters of
seafaring Mermaids cling to the Rocks with dreams of mortal ecstasy.
gently, Pat

[Neville]

Now that would be a fine thing for sure.. Bless you dear Pat .. and stay safe ya hear :)

[Patricia Wedel]

This is a treacherous time for our heal and well-being... we can only hope and pray for a remedy sooner than later. There are brilliant people well trained... trying to discover a vaccine. Wishing you safe and well. gently, Pat

[Neville]

and back at ya gently on a pillow of fine downy fluff :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the pointless doilies...
my mom used to make those...kind of pretty but served no purpose.
But these days we do lots of pointless things just to keep ourselves entertained during
this very distant, lonely time.
I like the guys playing cards at the half-empty table...even Ace high flush has a small audience to gasp at the good fortune.
j.

[Neville]

thank you kindly jacob... remember, I am only a button or two away my friend.
N.

[AJNJ]

This pandemic has been so crushing to the lifestyles of some. Especially for the simple folks in small tourist towns and villages, like the ones you describe so beautifully here. There is an innocence and vulnerability here. They don't even realize fully, what hit them from nowhere...

[Chris Shaw]

Really caught the ambience of the place you were staying. Not just how it looked, but the locals and how they live and have lived their lives for years. The half empty tables of the old men is telling. There is a poignancy here. There is always something in the air, but it is not always something sinister which can cause havoc, These are the times we now live in. The old women and their doilies reminded me of my Nan. She crocheted doilies too. Kept in my linen drawer, never used. Just looked at from time to time and held in my hands. Now those old women make face masks. How sad is that. How sad that our unappreciated freedom has now been put on the back burner and we don't know how long for. Fine work Neville.

Chris

[Neville]

my mane is made .. unlike me mind all of a muddle.. I shud thank thee now big time our Chris with a very pc kiss n a cuddle :)

[Chris Shaw]

Ha! Be careful of that rhyme. It could be contagious. A perfectly penned and socially distanced response :)