photo of porch swing‘Becalmed’: A Poem by Peter Venable The Society July 8, 2024 Beauty, Poetry 7 Comments . Becalmed When life is smooth—a gentle breeze On a porch swing—the garden lush. Retirement! Do as I please. Watch leaflets stir—two bluebirds fuss. Gardinia scent—I swing and swoon. My mind is still as a lagoon. I scoop yogurt with my teaspoon. No urge to move—no need to rush. The peace of God—salubrious. . . Peter Venable has been writing poetry for 50 years. He has been published in Windhover, Third Wednesday, Time of Singing, The Merton Seasonal, American Vendantist, The Anglican Theological Review, and others. He is a member of the Winston Salem Writers. On the whimsical side, he has been published in Bluepepper, Parody, Laughing Dog, The Asses of Parnassus, and Lighten Up Online (e. g. # 48). NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 7 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson July 8, 2024 Neat well-crafted poem becalming in my own retirement. Reply Sally Cook July 8, 2024 A poem as s even and nicely spaced as the white boards of the subject swing. Peace – how precious and how rare it is ! And how lovely to find it in this poem. Reply Michael Vanyukov July 8, 2024 Taking into account the title and all its possible meanings, I see bitter (and maybe a bit sweet) irony in what is facetiously presented as a bliss. Then again, what do I know. Reply Peter Venable July 9, 2024 Appreciate you. Seems more emotional storms than calms, but this AM, calm. Reply Shamik Banerjee July 9, 2024 I felt at peace reading this poem. Wonderful imagery—especially of the leaflets stirring and bluebirds fussing. Also, equating your calm mind to a lagoon is an excellent idea. Wishing you happy retirement days, Mr. Venable. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant July 11, 2024 The beauty of a peaceful mind and moment in this golden poem is tangible… and contagious. I especially like the perfume of the gardenia bloom. Thank you for this poetic ray of sunshine in a cumulonimbus-storm-cloud world. Reply Peter Venable July 11, 2024 I am honored from–let’s be frank–a gifted poetess as you. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Sally Cook July 8, 2024 A poem as s even and nicely spaced as the white boards of the subject swing. Peace – how precious and how rare it is ! And how lovely to find it in this poem. Reply
Michael Vanyukov July 8, 2024 Taking into account the title and all its possible meanings, I see bitter (and maybe a bit sweet) irony in what is facetiously presented as a bliss. Then again, what do I know. Reply
Peter Venable July 9, 2024 Appreciate you. Seems more emotional storms than calms, but this AM, calm. Reply
Shamik Banerjee July 9, 2024 I felt at peace reading this poem. Wonderful imagery—especially of the leaflets stirring and bluebirds fussing. Also, equating your calm mind to a lagoon is an excellent idea. Wishing you happy retirement days, Mr. Venable. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant July 11, 2024 The beauty of a peaceful mind and moment in this golden poem is tangible… and contagious. I especially like the perfume of the gardenia bloom. Thank you for this poetic ray of sunshine in a cumulonimbus-storm-cloud world. Reply