Charmed Chaos
Musings on Life, Love, and Linguine-Poetry & Writing
When the Evening is Still
“Night comes to the desert all at once, as if someone turned off the light.” –Joyce Carol Oates
Another oppressive day watching the world go by as I sit inside
even when the sizzling sun sets red, low in the western sky
still there will be no relief, for this is the southwest desert in July.
Late at night when the evening is still and the harsh wind has eased
I take a walk through my garden, say a wishful prayer of peace
hoping the roses survive another ruthless summer of intense heat.
Yet this I know to be true, this long hot summer will soon pass
then when evening comes and the turquoise sky becomes stained glass
we’ll lounge on a blanket of emerald grass, enjoy a sumptious repast.
©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg
Imaginary Garden with Real Toads: Weekend Mini-challenge- Let Evening Come
Poets United: Poetry Pantry #488
Share this:
34 Comments on “When the Evening is Still”
Leave a comment
JUST RELEASED!
JUST RELEASED!
Bartender at
Barista at Go Dog Go Cafe
Awards Top 20 Short Story Blog
Recent Comments
 | Michael Thiltgen on The Legend of Jump River … |
 | Linda Lee Lyberg on Spring Sigh |
 | Jetty on Spring Sigh |
| Linda Lee Lyberg on The Legend of Jump River … |
 | Mickey on The Legend of Jump River … |
POETS CORNER
Charmed Chaos 
Really nice. I especially like this part:
“when evening comes and the turquoise sky becomes stained glass”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly!
LikeLike
I can feel the heat……it is good things cool down in the evening. I love the peace in this poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Sherry.
LikeLike
I love your desert and thoroughly enjoyed this descriptive poem. Spot on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Gorgeous picture and lovely words to go with it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A week or so ago, NYC was so hot that I had to open umbrellas over my wee garden (perk of having a tiny city garden, I guess). Still, the dragon’s breath didn’t survive.
I feel so bad for your roses. Hope most of them made it or recover soon. Nature can burn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Magaly. They are hanging in there, but we’ll all be happy for a break in the heat. It’s supposed to be 92 on Wednesday which will be a nice respite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the faith in the coming joy and bounty. Thoroughly enjoyed this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much.
LikeLike
A hopeful ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, yes.
LikeLike
Linda, this is my favorite of yours so far, it is well written, to me a prose poem in stanza form.
But mainly because we relate:
1st, “,,, as I sit inside
even when the sizzling sun sets … ” I spent many an evening in the El Paso sands east of town with my carbine guarding a shack and a NIKE Hercules Missile site, sans the missiles. As things cooled I would take a lawn chair and sit, contemplating what came to mind. I wish now that I was writing poetry then.
2nd. “Late at night when the evening is still … ” I would walk out to the generators and refuel the one I’d run to keep the lights burning and the TV on. All the while hoping it would run long enough for my first sleep. The rats congregated when it was dark.
There’s a lot more memories there I could write of, but not here, troubles at home, being very poor, etc., etc.
..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow Jim. Sounds fascinating, truly. Thank you so much for sharing.
LikeLike
a red sunset – do you get them a lot in the desert? Stunning – almost worth the heat. I admired the rhyme in this poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! We do from time to time, but they are usually multi colored and spectacular.
LikeLike
This is a scrumptious poem, Linda. It really gives me a perspective of your part of the world. I truly feel the heat of the desert in late July. The ending keeps the reader looking forward….knowing the heat of the summer will go….and oh, the sumptious repast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
How vividly recreated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rosemary.
LikeLike
I accept all weather as it comes now as I live in Australia and heat before and after Christmas can be quite wearying and as for rain it come whens it wants not when you need it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, sometimes that’s the case here too. Thank you!
LikeLike
I am late to the party today, but here now to read. This is a wonderful write Linda, probably aimed more at the Poets United prompt — but I enjoyed it. What a really powerful picture — wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rob. Actually, it was written for Kim’s prompt at Toads!
LikeLike
A stunning snapshot of a place I will only ever experience through pictures and poetry, Linda, and you’ve taken me there with this one. The introduction through the Joyce Carol Oates’ quote confirmed what I already knew about desert nights, but your poem evoked oppressive heat and sizzling sun that made my skin itch! – and then the turquoise sky became stained glass! How beautiful! I hope the roses survive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Kim! They look rough, but they are strong. This is their 15th summer. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your roses. It’s been rougher than average here in PA too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
This is gorgeously written, Linda! ❤️ The weather was extremely hot and humid a few days ago .. so much so that there were sleepless nights .. now it’s monsoon and there is continuous rain. I hope the roses survive! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sanaa! ❤️
LikeLike
I know how true this is. My sister used to live in the desert and how she grew those roses I’ll never know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike