The Daze Poem by Mary Ruefle

The Daze

Rating: 4.0


It was one of those mornings the earth seemed
not to have had any rest at all, her face dour
and unrefreshed, no particular place-- subway,
park-- expressed sufficient interest in present circumstances
though flowers popped up and tokens
dropped down, deep in the turnstiles. And from
the dovecots nothing was released or killed.
No one seemed to mind, though everyone noticed.
If the alphabet died-- even the o collapsing, the l
a lance in its groin-- what of it? The question
'krispies, flakes or loops?'-- always an indicator of
attention-- took a turn for the worse, though crumpets
could still be successfully toasted: machines worked,
the idiom death warmed over was in use. By noon,
postage stamps were half their width and worth
but no one stopped licking. Neutrinos passed,
undetected. Corpulent clouds formed in the sky.
Tea was served at four. When the wind blew off a shingle
or two, like hairs, and the scalp of the house began
to howl, not a roofer nailed it down. That was that.
When the moon came out and glowed like a night light
loose in its socket, no one was captious, cautious or wise,
though the toes of a few behaved strangely in bed--
they peeped out of the blankets like insects' antennae,
then turned into periscopes scouting to see
if the daze that was morning had actually managed to doze.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Edward Kofi Louis 07 November 2016

In its socket! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

4 0 Reply
Partha Pratim Goswami 07 November 2016

I find it most unconventional and extraordinary.Beautiful piece of creation

3 0 Reply
Earnest Gatuma 07 November 2016

Simply flourishing, amazing and beautiful.....

3 0 Reply
Seamus O Brian 07 November 2016

So colorfully inventive. A jaunty ride to nowhere, each bump and jostle engagingly enjoyable.

3 0 Reply
Bill Cantrell 07 November 2016

A pleasure to read this wonderful work

3 0 Reply
Terence Craddock 04 August 2023

loved the shifting movement of commonplace to insight rare imagery, in a day daze poem drifting through slumber morning half waking, a day semi sleep walking, to a potential night daze doze sleep seeking

0 0 Reply
Rose Marie Juan-austin 04 August 2023

Wonderful poem with captivating images. Very engaging!

0 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 07 November 2017

Such a brilliant write, Mary... congrats for being chosen.....10++++

0 0 Reply
Subhas Chandra Chakra 07 November 2017

When the moon came out and glowed like a night light loose in its socket, no one was captious, cautious or wise, though the toes of a few behaved strangely in bed- Wow beautiful lines, so nicely penned. Thanks for sharing. 10+++

0 0 Reply

Reliving the events of the day or dreaming of what will come tomorrow..nice poem.. a ten..dreams do record and haunt..

1 0 Reply
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Mary Ruefle

Mary Ruefle

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
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