i overheard some people talking. “Ask her,” one whispered to the other and i was inspired. Then a week passed and now, well, don’t ask me.
ask her
At five in the morning, it’s dark yet, and you may find her out on the stoop, arms about knees, one hand around a cup of hot coffee, the fingers of the other holding a cigarette. Like a mummy, a present. All wrapped up.
Stars. The remnants of stars. Sometimes a breeze, perhaps a goose honking, which doesn’t bother her, being awake as she is. And why is she awake at five am? Cocooned within blue smoke, fagrant steam, limbs-
Kind of like a huge caterpillar, waiting on the sun to emerge. A butterfly.
Her sleeping and wakefulness. She sleeps until she dreams. Wakes until she dreams. There are those who simply sleep- seven hours, six hours, not at all. She wakes, thinks, becomes hungry for brightness, abstractions, length, flight. She wakes to work up an appetite, tiredness.
Eventually, not in its long sense, but soon, she feasts on dreams.
Red morning sky, she unfurls with the sun. Why? Why is she there, silent, visiting the chirrup of crickets, so early, no where to go, nothing to do, see. Nothing to be but there…
You’ll have to ask her.
(copyright 2008 ) c A Hughes
10.03.08
Oh chica,
that is gorgeous. I love the mood of it, the backdoor into her mind and soul – like a beautiful photograph you can’t stop looking at. Haunting.
Annie
Thanks, Chica!
Remember, i heard my girls saying something about ‘asking her’?
i initially wrote something along those lines- my girls complaining about not being able to do this or that and why not? “Ask her.” i get that all of the time.
But it wouldn’t ‘go’. So i was sitting outside, five in the morning, saw a neighbor and thought, What are we doing up at this mad hour? And then-
my theme Friday!
~c
Hi c.
Aww!! What beautiful writing . I love the way you write, I feel you to have similar thoughts as I have. I love the way you feel and write about it and how you write your feelings. I understand them.
LOVERLY.
Thank you
Smiles & Dreams
Di
PS. I was going to write a poem in this way the other week. I’ve forgot whats its called now when we place the letter of the name or whatever and write about it. I think its begins with ( I )
Thank you, Di.
i believe the type of poem you are referring to is an acrostic.
Post it! i look forward to it.
~c
I love it, c. I don’t start my mornings so early, but even so I could relate to what you wrote.
Thank you, Fighter of Windmills.
Waking at 5 AM is not awesome but being awake at 5 AM is.
~c
holy jeeebus . . breathtaking.
Thank you, Red!
i owe your blog a nice long visit. i miss it!
i miss you!
~c
You always paint such brilliant images in my mind with your words. I could feel the cold stillness of the early morning and see the smoke rise around her.
You are so amazing.
Aw, shucks Trish…
Thank you a lot.
~c