Between the Stillness

Between the stillness

Sounds weave together

Like the wind in the tree tops

Sounds, the size of released sighs

Sotto voce

 

A woman with a handful of pegs

Is removing washing from the line

She pauses, tilts her head sideways

Then enters the house

 

A dogs begins to howl

An airplane faintly groans

A pregnant silence invades

Then once again a stillness

Sits upon the land

 

Of a sudden, a car begins to toot its toot

A train yells tickety boo, tickety boo

And a little boy waves his homemade flag

 

Odours begin to waft out of open doors

As dusk reveals her sultry face

And smiling faces sit down to evening meal

A swishing sound invades the ear

Like the sound of the ocean rushing to shore

As a basal tone shoots from the back of the head

Pounding the temples

 

Their uneaten stew sits cooling at the table

The family dog whining

As the family take their seats under the table

 

Tomorrow they said they may ride

The train that yells tickety boo tickety boo

 

But only if they’re lucky.

Author's Note

May they be blessed

Reviews

[Relic]

This is very moving. You've captured scenes out of a movie about the horrors of war. About loss and grief. You're skill with a pen is evident. I'll be reading more of your work in the future.

[Pauline]

I didn't realise that this portrayed scenes from a movie, I was just thinking about the Ukraine. Many thanks for your comment Relic.

Pauline.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is such a special tribute to country fighting for its survival.

I also pictured a scene in an older movie about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor...
the silence, the breeze, a woman taking clothes off the line....and then the planes overhead.

so many innocent lives are lost by stupid wars.

j.

[Pauline]

Hello J. Why, in this day and age are we watching scenes from hell? Wouldn't you think we'd learn from past mistakes and do our best to live in peace or is that just a pipe dream?

Pauline.

[Pauline]

So lovely to hear from you again Chris and many thanks for your review. My heart really is with people of the Ukraine. It's unbearable to watch and listen to ... and yes, we really do live in scary times. I just hope that all continues to go well with you. Take care Chris.xx

[Chris Shaw]

This vivid scenario played out visually in my mind as I read your words dear Pauline. How the oppressed suffer. I can only think of the wretched misery in Ukraine at the present time. We live in really scary times. You have captured the disruption and fear in your lines. Hope all is OK with you my friend.

Chris