The Message

The Message




The wind blows cold, brushing my face,
a final farewell from the night.
Stars disappear, leaving no trace,
fleeing the touch of dawn's first light.
         The night air, with a last embrace,
         joins with the onyx sky in flight.

The horizon begins to share
the promise of the coming day.
A new beginning, waiting there,
its pastel palette on display.
         Daybreak's beauty, like answered prayer,
         flows forth, chasing away the gray.

No matter your beliefs, it seems
this daily message comes to you.
It's more than just your wishful dreams;
each day's a chance to start anew.
         From God or fate or unknown schemes,
         you have a choice in what you do.

How often have we heard it said
that as we journey through life's doors
don't mourn the past, for it is dead?
Find joy in new, uncharted shores.
         Tomorrow isn't filled with dread:
         the opportunities are yours.


Notes:
An entry for Round 46 of "Pond Poetry"  [ASR]
Prompt: Beginnings
Form:  The Inverted Refrain consists of four 6-line stanzas, for a total of 24 lines. The first four lines of a stanza create a statement from which the last 2 lines extract the meaning, and invert the way it was said. The last two lines of each stanza, which are the 'inverted refrain', are indented as a couplet.  The Inverted Refrain is a rhyming poem with a set meter and rhyme scheme as follows: Rhyme scheme per stanza:  Lines #1-4 are abab; Lines #5 and #6, the two inverted refrain lines, can be ab or ba.  Meter: 8 syllables in every line.

Thank you for taking the time to read my poem.  Please, as long as you're here, leave a comment.  Criticisms, thoughts, reactions, yes – even words of encouragement or praise – are all equally welcome

Ken