Piccaninni Dawn

Posted by andysmerdon on July 31, 2016
Posted in: Poetry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 23 Comments

Possum 2

 

In the distance a magpie calls,

Tentatively.

I slide out of bed and slip on a tracksuit,

Sleepily.

The dog uncurls from her bed,

Expectantly.

It’s walk time –

A cup of tea for me,

Stretching and sniffing for the dog.

The darkness cloaks our departure.

Possums take to the power-lines as we pass.

The morning is ours right now.

I can hear the sea.

Gentle waves sigh against

The coarse sand beach.

Curlews cry out from the rocky point,

Heralding the arrival

Of a new born day.

Piccaninni dawn –

Nothing showy;

Pastels of orange, yellow and blue.

Soft light that glows

And lightly tints the bay –

This is why I’m here.

23 comments on “Piccaninni Dawn”

  2. Sounds like an exciting place around you. Waking up to some lovely sounds and sights of nature. That is a lovely shot and silhouette of a cat. Up and early in the day. I wonder what it wants.. Hope you are well, Andy. Spring is almost here 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks Mabel 🙂 I do love this new place we are living in. Its nice to be able to walk along the beach and see and hear the different birds – That is a possum up on the power lines in the picture Mabel 🙂 Our dog, Yopi, startled it and it ran up the power pole and across the line. So cute. Hope all is well with you also Mabel, Take care and thanks for reading and commenting 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Thanks for introducing me to a wonderful part of Australia, and for immortalizing a possum with a great sense of balance. The word “Piccaninni” in the title was puzzling at first because its usage in the USA is very different from its usage in Australia. [Google to the rescue!] Glad to hear that a word with such a rollicking sound has a pleasant meaning somewhere.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks M.C. I must admit that I worried a little about the title, because of it association with derogatory terms elsewhere, but then I thought, I am writing from Australia and here, this is not a bad term, so I used it and as you say it has a rollicking sound 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. I too wondered about the ‘Piccannini’ – and in Jamaica it is – (I should say was cause I am not there now) – not used derogatorily but was a term of endearment for the little one- spelled and pronounced ‘pickney’ as in “me pickney dem gwaan to their baby father ” 🙂
    Catchy title and I too love to be out at the break of dawn.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment