The porch swing hangs fixed in a morning sun
that bleaches its gray slats, its flowered cushion
whose flowers have faded, like those of summer,
and a small brown spider has hung out her web
on a line between porch post and chain
so that no one may swing without breaking it.
She is saying it's time that the swinging were done with,
time that the creaking and pinging and popping
that sang through the ceiling were past,
time now for the soft vibrations of moths,
the wasp tapping each board for an entrance,
the cool dewdrops to brush from her work
every morning, one world at a time.
'cool dewdrops to brush from her work every morning'..........it brought to my mind the picture of dewdrops on a spider net. Beautiful!
This comes out of the blue as a fine poem from this overexposed poet.
How thoughtfully as well as wonderfully Poet views a tiny little moment in nature. I fI am the spider, which is forced to make the web right there between the porch post and the swing chain, where the chain can finish everything at any moment, and no where else, I winder what I would do. Thank you Ted for the insightful poem and congrats for being the PoD. X
Ted Kooser is a superb writer and poet and he is a must read for aspiring poets.
Well articulated and nicely brought forth with insight. Thanks for sharing
This poem captures the transition from summer to autumn perfectly - I especially love the soft vibrations of moths, the cool dewdrops to brush from her work. And the way the spider decides it's time for the swinging to stop. The rhythm and music of the lines work together to make this poem magical.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
faded, unbroken web, time swinging were done, that sang were past All say the time has moved on leaving the past reluctantly behind in memory. A wonderful thoughtful poem.