The Lamp Post

I wrote this last fall after moving from Idaho to Washington

It feels strange to not wake up

in my Boise bedroom,

where the neighbor’s  tree,

standing behind my cedar fence,

greeted me through open blinds.

 

Now I wake up and see a lamp post

outside my upstairs window.

Sometimes a blue jay lands on it.

Sometimes a raven sits and caws.

November colored leaves

shine in the background.

 

In the dawn, I wake up and see

the lamp post shining.

Some how it seems like a metaphor.

Light showing the way.

 

I moved here for love.

Love for my daughter and son-in-law.

Love for my mother and brothers.

Love for John.

 

There are changes to come

as we make a new life here.

The lamp post reminds me.

Light will show the way.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Top-notch symbolism for those making any big change in life. Look for the steady light in one's new habitat & everything else will be well-lit (((HUGS)))

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you for that feedback. Selling my house in Boise, Idaho and moving here to be closer to people I love, was one of my hardest decisions. But I'm thankful I did it.

[Casey Truax]

Sometimes it is the small but consistent things, like the view from the window every morning, that have the most impact in our lives.

[Shelley Warner]

Yes, that's true. Thank you for reading, Casey.

[Samuel Dickens]

This is quite touching. It makes perfect sense, too, that a glowing lamppost would signal good things to come. Why, It's almost a little sun on a pole. Your writing is always so easy to embrace.

[Shelley Warner]

What a nice thing to say Samuel. Yes, the lamp post does signal light shining, which we all need.

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful poem and I liked the photo. I do believe dear Shelley, we do everything for a good reason. When I was young. I loved to travel till I found a good woman and my children. Taught me. I was in the right place. We need places where we feel okay and safe. The family near. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Coyote. I didn't see your review when you posted it a week ago I am happy for you that you found a good woman and children. Yes, this is the right place for me.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Shelley.

[wordman]

maybe a sign from god showing you the way

[Shelley Warner]

Yes, I think so. Thanks for reading.

[wordman]

you`re welcome

[Richard🖌]

Good morning, Shelley! : )

It's so nice to enjoy one of your lovely pieces on a warm Sunday morn' … especially, when it's so equally fraught with vivid metaphor, the sweetness of imagery, tender emotion, sentimental nostalgia, and romantic promise … sighhh!
Literally, who would chose to replace a wonderful familiar tree with a lamppost? But, this is not about literal terms, it's about dreams and love, and life's treasures to embrace and cherish, lit by the emblematic glow of all that's come and will.

My heart soars for you, Dear Poetess … beautifully rendered, Shelley ⁓ Richard 🍃

[psst! check sp: lamppost 'n Somehow; spacing in L3.] Picky, ain't I? 🙄
Love the tree … is it a miniature Japanese maple?

[Shelley Warner]

What a wonderful review, thanks so much. Yes, romantic promise. John was my first boyfriend when I was 14. It was a short relationship. We each had long marriages to other partners and we each lost our spouses. Then amazingly, we came back into each other's lives. He lives in Washington I lived in Idaho We saw each other when we could. My daughter and her husband live in Oregon and my brothers and mother in Washington. So I moved to Washington.It was a good decision. But a tough one.

[Richard🖌]

Gee, Shelley,
Such a poignant, yet, beautiful story told.
What really worthwhile in life comes easy, eh? 😏

[Shelley Warner]

It came unexpected and easy in some ways. Some hurdles to overcome. Like when he first kissed me, he suffered guilt about his wife who had passed away. But his daughter and his sister in law told him not to feel guilty and that hurdle was overcome. :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the lamp is a metaphor within the poem, the poem is a metaphor within itself.
changes can be tough, but we adapt...
we become our own lamp post lighting the way to adjustment.
j.

[Shelley Warner]

Yes, that's for sure. Thanks for reading.

[lovelymarina]

These symbolic and nostalgic pieces of writing are what I live for…
There’s beauty in everything, everywhere, everybody. We just have to be keen enough to find it. The lamp post will create more than just light on dimmed streets…
This was beautiful.
Marina

[Shelley Warner]

Aww, thank you Marina

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

It truly is a beautiful illuminating metaphor Shelley. The light always has a way of finding us in times of need and comfort. Even through changes and unfamiliar moments. Thank you for your poem.

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you for reading Carlos. Yes light shines for us.

[Chris Shaw]

I would imagine Shelley, that you miss the tree on waking. However you have moved to Washington for love, and there are many there that you love. The lamp post is different, but is shines out a light in the darkness and surely that can bring some comfort. You have much to look forward to. A lovely poem, visually pleasing.

Chris

[Shelley Warner]

Thank you Chris for reading and sharing your kind thoughts. I've finally figured out how to post some photos with my poems and stories. When I posted the picture with this one, I realized that I'm able to copy and paste if I do it from a document in which I've inserted a photo. So I've posted a photo with my poem "Our Tradition" and with my first "Adventures with John in his Red Ford Truck".

[Chris Shaw]

Clever you. I am a complete dummy when it comes to IT:)