It's Past Half One

 

It's past half one

and he still isn't home.

A chilly, moon-less night.

Why isn't he answering his phone?

Before he left,

he held me

and kissed me

longer than he usually does.

That look in his eyes!

"Will you stop worrying so much?"

He stooped on the creaky porch

to adjust his worn brown boots.

Then I watched him disappear

through the gate, down the hill.......

His usual route.

Two o'clock now.

"Where can he be?"

Out there, some where

cold, dark,windy.

Around the porch

autumn leaves flutter.

My hands are trembling

when under a dying potted plant

I discover a letter!

 

Ahmad Desai

 

Your comments will be appreciated. Please take a few moments to submit them here

Please use the back-button on your browser to return to the submissions page, or click Home

 

 

Name

Comment

Date

Erna

You have told a convincing story with which I can identify – right up to the surprise ending it held my attention. I was drawn in, the speaker’s feelings reflected by the descriptions of the weather outside.

 

Some suggestions:

 

It's past half one

he’s still not home.

A chilly, moon-less night.

Why doesn’t he answer his phone?

 

He held me

and kissed me longer

than he usually does, before he left.

"Will you stop worrying so much?"

 

He stooped on the creaky porch,

adjusted his worn brown boots.

 

Then I watched him disappear

through the gate, down the hill.

His usual route.

 

Two o'clock now.

Where can he be?

Out there, some where.

 

Around the porch

autumn leaves flutter.

I discover (my hands tremble)

a letter

under a dying potted plant.

 

2007-05-25

Mandy

Your poem held my attention. I liked the 'dying potted plant' giving a hint of what was in the letter.


You could try to be more economical with words You should only use a word if you really have to, e.g.:

 "Before he left he held me
     kissed me" (omit and)

Maybe "The porch creaked his hesitation"

Also pay attention to your rhythm. The first lines work very well:
'It's past half one
and he still isn't home.
A chilly, moon-less night. '

But then:
'Why isn't he answering his phone?'
loses some of the rhythm

I think this poem has excellent potential

2007-11-10