When out of sorts with life or self,
A porch is hard to beat
As long as you’ve a comfy chair
And space to stretch your feet.
Lean back and watch the world go by,
Forego life’s stress and chatter.
What’s not been done remains undone.
But, really, did it matter?
Unlike the confines of a house
That holds the world at bay,
A porch connects to life itself
At any time of day.
A porch’s vantage point and height,
The time of day or year,
Is less important than the chance
It gives to see and hear.
A portal to life beyond yourself
Is what a porch provides.
It helps regain perspective i
And quite a bit besides.
Empty your mind as you’d turn out
Your pocket change at night.
Just watch and listen silently,
In small things take delight:
Morning dew and waking sounds
Then sunlight through the leaves,
Small children passing on their bikes,
And smells borne by the breeze,
Birds in search of food or mates,
Your neighbors mowing lawns
The setting sun and rising moon,
At twilight deer with fawns.
A porch restores one’s sense of place,
Shows how all fits together,
Revealing ties that ease the heart
In any kind of weather.
You have your porch or stoop, I have my Summer House, they are all the same, to comtemplation.. Lovely, colin J...
Oh my, another delicious poem, Chuck. I could melt at the feel of it. I too love porches and somewhere in my menagerie of poems is one about porches. This is a treasure - a 10 for sure! Marilyn
I really like your poems. I wonder if you would consider leaving some of them shorter and open ended...such as: Lean back and watch the world go by, Forego life’s stress and chatter. What’s not been done remains undone. But, really, did it matter? This in itself seems like it get the meat and bones of an outlook on life, rather than relating specifically to a porch. It's highly memorable and quaotable. Just a thought!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I like to write out on the porch but can't get out there much anymore. I need to start enjoying my porch again.