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Summer Nocturne

In steady, humming monotone,
With synchronism the crickets drone,
And hushedly through the night intone
__Their evening chant,

Accompanied by a brusque descant,
In equal-measured, rhythmic slant
Of katy-did and katy-didn’t.
__In call to mate,

The owl decides to dedicate
An octave in crescendo. Eight
Tu-whoos in solo resonate
__The pitch-dark sky.

They lullaby rock, rock-a-bye.

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Katydid: The Katydid is a species of cricket. They get their name from the ratchet-like noise emitted by the males during summer nights, which sounds like “Kay-tee-did, Kay-tee-didn’t.” 

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Cheryl Corey is a Connecticut poet. She is also an author of short stories, a novella, and recently completed a novel.

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9 Responses

  1. Satyananda Sarangi

    How lovely this is!

    The mood of evening settling in much like the mood of poetry.

    Loved the expression “The owl decides to dedicate
    An octave in crescendo”.

    Really beautiful.

    Reply
    • Cheryl Corey

      Glad you enjoyed it. If you’re ever lucky enough to hear an owl hooting at night, it’s very mysterious and beautiful. You know it’s out there, somewhere in that darkness, but you can never pinpoint exactly where it is. The evening has a special music all its own.

      Reply
      • Satyananda Sarangi

        Strangely your poem reminded me of another by Emily Bronte.

        I know not how it falls on me,
        This summer evening, hushed and lone;
        Yet the faint wind comes soothingly
        With something of an olden tone.

        Forgive me if I’ve shunned so long
        Your gentle greeting, earth and air!
        But sorrow withers even the strong,
        And who can fight against despair?

  2. Paul Freeman

    The mood, the imagery, the modern mythology. All good.

    How about removing ‘the’ from the second line? Just a thought.

    Thanks for a read that took me out of myself, Cheryl, no matter how briefly.

    Reply
  3. Cynthia Erlandson

    This evokes beautiful musical imagery of a time that I love, summer evenings. I often sit outside listening to the peaceful music of the crickets and cicadas. Lovely poem!

    Reply
  5. Guy Warner

    Poetry is so often used for social commentary, but in my opinion it is at its best when speaking beautifully of beautiful things. I really enjoyed this, it stands out among the rest.

    Reply

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