Sunday 27 November 2022

The Love of Ordinary

 



The sunset is snagged for a minute

on the window of the moving car.

It makes me glad - that we are in it

circling sun and island as we are.

 

Ordinary things make me happy -

the sounds at the pump as you refuel,

the curve of road, the strength of coffee,

minute grass flowers strewn like small jewels.

 

The ancient trees that make the forest,

the curve of the moon that makes the tide,

this poem written in the smallest,

quietest words with you at my side. 

 

 


This one's dedicated to the Hilaire Belloc poetry fan, who will deign to read no others. Which means I can write whatever I please, that's got to be good. And all rather ordinary. :) 



And here is another bit of ordinary and boring...




19 comments:

  1. The ordinary is ignored too often until suddenly it disappears or nearly disappears. Then, too late, we realize what we had.

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    1. I think that's the only good thing about the pandemic. It's focussed our attention back to the ordinary. The small stuff that's actually the bedrock of happiness and shouldn't be taken for granted.

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  2. Hari OM
    The minutae of life are too easily overlooked. Thank goodness for recorders such as yourself! YAM xx

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    1. Indeed, I record them so as not to overlook. <3

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  3. Those are the best times, when the little daily things bring us peace

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  4. Ordinary is so often extraordinary when we take the time to appreciate it...

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    1. Ordinary moments lined end to end make up contentment.

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  5. Such a small peaceful poem with a lot to say. Wonderful

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    1. I do have rather a lot to say about nothing in particular :) Glad you enjoyed the poem.

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  6. Hi Nila - I can't quite wrap my head around "the sounds at the pump as you refuel," - but I used to revel in the fumes!

    As you say .. if we take time to stop and smell the roses we'll be all the better for it ... time to value time and the ordinary ...

    Always good to read your work/s ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary! I used to revel in the fumes too, till my sense of smell failed so now I compensate with the others. Learning to value the ordinary has been a particular obsession of mine :)

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  7. Ordinary and extraordinary are in ones perspective...well written Nilanjana

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    1. Thank you, Ashok. Perspective is everything!

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    2. https://ashokism.blogspot.com/2021/08/ashokism-50-poetic-reflection-in-art.html?m=1

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    3. Thanks for the link. How awesome!

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  8. Far from ordinary or boring - I liked your essay. Well done. As for this poem, I too revel in the ordinary and try to be very aware of just the "little things". I got back from my dad's in PA, and every walk around the block, I soaked in the final fall color leaves on the trees, the scratch the sky tall trees, and the rather brisk wind at the corners. Your poem makes the ordinary extraordinary. Thanks

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  9. PS - yes I had commented on Sunday. But I reread it today and your essay too and had to reiterate my thoughts.

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    1. I am exceedingly thrilled that you felt like doing that! Thank you! Happiness is made up of ordinary moments piling up, people who live extraordinary lives are rarely happy, at least that's what it seems like to me.
      Your time in PA and your walk sound heavenly. It is so important to make the most of the time we spend with family, especially our elders. Glad you had a great visit and a safe trip back.

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