Poetry By Susan Stewart - Poem 2

Sestina sunset

Life ends in Sunset, close of day,
Blaze of glory, colours sway.
Rays behind clouds, reign sharply down,                
Lustrous lake reflects below.
Twilight silhouettes of man and bird,
Wrapped in mystery, when sound is heard.

Short sharp sounds are often heard,
Chanting changes of the day
With winging whistling of every bird,
Lifting off in swinging sway,
Looking lightly to the land below,
Circling paths upward, dragging down.

Paths of life on dewy down,
Boisterous bird on shore is heard,
Billowed waves break below,
Create new scenes at dusk each day.
Tides ebb and flow in sanguine sway,
None more important than the bird.

Man’s life is likened to a bird,
Soaring up and sweeping down.
Life’s journey will often sway
With the wisdom that is heard.
As sunset comes to life and day,
All colours drain from land below.           

Man lives his life in blend below
On currents just like any bird,
Flowing patterns through the day.
Windy currents dash him down,
Pleading to be ever heard,
Focus fixed, no one can sway.

Glowing edges then in sunset sway,
Effortless expiry of the breath below.
Eternal eye, the Creators guidance heard,
Much higher than the flight of any bird.
Colour gone as light source closes down,
Silver grey at end of sunlit day.

No longer day is seen below,
Sunset sways both man and bird.
Light softens down and sound no longer heard.

Susan Stewart

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