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Mosaic Musings...interactive poetry reviews _ Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -> Herme's Homilies _ Dawning *

Posted by: Larry Jul 31 17, 08:25

Dawning

Pale fingers reach into the copse of trees
to push the spectral shadows hiding there
into the morning light. A gentle breeze
is rustling leaves and tiny branches where
the birds have roosted. Wakening in song,
they greet the day with hungry mouths to feed.
Each knows the tree and nest where they belong;
no need for one to guide or intercede.

Would that eclectic people emulate
and realize what simple creatures know.
The gift of each new day is merely fate
and every moment wasted is to throw
that gift away. The peril is that we
no longer comprehend its sanctity.

Posted by: JustDaniel Jul 31 17, 13:17

Hey, Larry...

a very poignant statement in an excellent sonnet.

You introduce me to a new word in "copse"... and who knows, it may allow me a new bit of word play down the line, since it's pronounced "cops"! I only have one question, since I've never heard the word used. Since it is "a group of small trees" is your "of trees" redundant? I'm not saying that it is; I'm asking and wondering. The definitions that I've read would lead me to believe that, but I've not seen sentences with the word used.

Looking forward to your response, Daniel

_{P.S. I guess you could say the I'm calling out the grammar copse from hiding in the trees?}

Posted by: Ali zonak Jul 31 17, 16:23

Hello Larry;
I can only agree with Daniel. A fine write, well thought through. These are thoughtful lines that appeal to me:
"The gift of each new day is merely fate
and every moment wasted is to throw
that gift away."

P.S.
This might answer Daniel's question: A "copse" is an area or grouping of trees, or a dense growth of bush. A small clustering of pine trees that stands out is an example. (Isn't the internet great? But I knew that already, lol) So, Larry is quite correct. Ali

Posted by: Larry Aug 2 17, 23:41

Hi Daniel and Ali,

Thanks for dropping in for a read and I’m glad I provided an addition to your lexicon.

Copse in this instance is a thicket, grove or covert “of trees”. You can have a copse without it being “trees”; things like undergrowth, brush, new growth from forested land, etc. I see that Ali got back here before I was able to answer your questions.

You have the pronunciation correct in that it is like “cops” whom you need not call for grammatical misdeeds.

Larry

Posted by: JustDaniel Aug 3 17, 11:54

Besides for my thanking you, this is an incidental visit from the grammar copse re your explanation:

You can have a copse without it being “trees”; things...

Please note that it should rather be its, since a gerund (present participle used as a noun) is modified by a possessive. Of course I know that you know both of these facts, so this is but a little reminder.

just a Light correction, Daniel