a summer scene in the country (painting by Coppard)‘A Summer Hour’ and Other Poems by Sally Cook The Society February 6, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 9 Comments . A Summer Hour A burgeoning bush, some butterflies, Low wooden steps, warped, faded, rise Amid the calm of idle talk— The blur of shadows on the walk. Sometimes a passing, random thought Within winged fantasy is caught, While puffed clouds in a bowl of blue Lie quiet in the overview. Inconsequential bits of light Form auras there, against the night. . . The White Moth Hunter Above, in frigid air, a white moth there Circles about, a crystalline white flake, To find you, living by a frozen lake. Drawn out by winter sun white moths freeze stiff— You marvel from your perch. But I say if In real life you should happen on that moth In human form, so sensitive that both Of you could trace the sky, your ties below Would make you feel the creature had to go; This thing too beautiful to live. A rout Might clear your conscience, drive the memories out And bring a sort of peace. In any case, You’d cancel out its space, and so erase. . . The Light Is From Mozart Curtains hang like light, Semi-sheer and fine; Diffusing sharper sight As light pours down like wine. Peaches in a bowl Glister, rounded there; Each circumference whole In the placid air. Improvisations, faint Sparkling of Mozart Resound, transpose in paint An image of his heart. previously publish in Expansive Poetry Online . . Sally Cook is both a poet and a painter of magical realism. Her poems have also appeared in Blue Unicorn, First Things, Chronicles, The Formalist Portal, Light Quarterly, National Review, Pennsylvania Review, TRINACRIA, and other electronic and print journals. A six-time nominee for a Pushcart award, in 2007 Cook was featured poet in The Raintown Review. She has received several awards from the World Order of Narrative and Formalist Poets, and her Best American Poetry Challenge-winning poem “As the Underworld Turns” was published in Pool. 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. 9 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson February 6, 2025 Sally, so good to see some or your precious poems again. Your rustic, bucolic poetry entrances with beautiful depth of thought and words. Reply Joseph S. Salemi February 6, 2025 To all our readers: Sally Cook is still in rehab, and will not be able to comment here. She has asked me to thank you in advance for whatever you may post about her poems. Please pray for her recovery. Reply Morrison Handley-Schachler February 6, 2025 These are three beautiful descriptive poems, Sally. I love the way that you capture the delicate nature of light in all three and the fragility of the moth. All best wishes for your future recovery. Reply Julian D. Woodruff February 6, 2025 Models of economy and sensitive observation, all 3. Thank you, Sally, and speedy return to full health! Reply Cynthia Erlandson February 6, 2025 These are lovely pictures of winged things, and of Mozart’s music. “Sometimes a passing random thought / Within winged fantasy is caught” is an especially wonderful way of putting something invisible into a visible image. Reply Margaret Coats February 6, 2025 Nice “Summer Hour,” Sally. Long ago I used to watch “puffed clouds in a bowl of blue” when school was out for summer. Hope you are mending well in rehab so as to be out and about this coming summer. Will say a Memorare for your recovery! Reply Cheryl A Corey February 7, 2025 “A Summer Hour” is a lovely poem that perfectly evokes a relaxed ambiance. I especially like “puffed clouds in a bowl of blue”. Reply Shamik Banerjee February 8, 2025 Great craft, Sally! Summer Hour and The Light is From Mozart are my favourite. The first took me to the setting itself, held my hand, and walked. The second provided a sense of comfort and ease! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 10, 2025 I always appreciate a Sally Cook poem, and these three are a treat for the soul and the senses. I especially like “The White Moth Hunter” for its ethereal aura and exquisite imagery… “This thing too beautiful to live” has touched my heart with its otherworldly delicacy. I miss you, my friend, and I’m most certainly praying for your recovery – Mike too! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy Eugene Peterson February 6, 2025 Sally, so good to see some or your precious poems again. Your rustic, bucolic poetry entrances with beautiful depth of thought and words. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi February 6, 2025 To all our readers: Sally Cook is still in rehab, and will not be able to comment here. She has asked me to thank you in advance for whatever you may post about her poems. Please pray for her recovery. Reply
Morrison Handley-Schachler February 6, 2025 These are three beautiful descriptive poems, Sally. I love the way that you capture the delicate nature of light in all three and the fragility of the moth. All best wishes for your future recovery. Reply
Julian D. Woodruff February 6, 2025 Models of economy and sensitive observation, all 3. Thank you, Sally, and speedy return to full health! Reply
Cynthia Erlandson February 6, 2025 These are lovely pictures of winged things, and of Mozart’s music. “Sometimes a passing random thought / Within winged fantasy is caught” is an especially wonderful way of putting something invisible into a visible image. Reply
Margaret Coats February 6, 2025 Nice “Summer Hour,” Sally. Long ago I used to watch “puffed clouds in a bowl of blue” when school was out for summer. Hope you are mending well in rehab so as to be out and about this coming summer. Will say a Memorare for your recovery! Reply
Cheryl A Corey February 7, 2025 “A Summer Hour” is a lovely poem that perfectly evokes a relaxed ambiance. I especially like “puffed clouds in a bowl of blue”. Reply
Shamik Banerjee February 8, 2025 Great craft, Sally! Summer Hour and The Light is From Mozart are my favourite. The first took me to the setting itself, held my hand, and walked. The second provided a sense of comfort and ease! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 10, 2025 I always appreciate a Sally Cook poem, and these three are a treat for the soul and the senses. I especially like “The White Moth Hunter” for its ethereal aura and exquisite imagery… “This thing too beautiful to live” has touched my heart with its otherworldly delicacy. I miss you, my friend, and I’m most certainly praying for your recovery – Mike too! Reply