Poem of the Day: “Little Tides” by Carol Hamilton, Poet of the Month

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present “Little Tides” by Carol Hamilton, Poet of the Month.  Ms. Hamilton will also be serving as the guest judge for the Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest, which will run from September 1 to October 15, 2015.  A detailed biography of Ms. Hamilton may be found here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2015/08/songs-of-eretz-poetry-review-poet-of.html.  The contest guidelines may be previewed here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/p/songs-of-eretz.html.

Little Tides

Carol Hamilton

The old wives’ tales of gardening

speak of planting as the moon waxes.

They say every earthly drop of liquid

is pulled and released

by our roving partners

of the Yin and Yang sky.

Outside my door I look

at those deep-etched leaves

of chocolate mint,

richly green and redolent.

Now I hear miniscule sea symphonies.

Even my molecules dance to this rhythm.

Is it true?

No wonder I hear this silent song

thrumming, humming,

plaiting me into some universal braid.

Poet’s Notes:  I love learning of folklore and world views that come to us from the past. If we are awake and listening, they can carry us on journeys that stir our awareness of so much that links us to the past and deeper into our common humanity.  This poem is playing at all of that.

Editor’s Note:  I enjoy the alliteration and consonance throughout this poem.  In addition, its physical rhythm as well as its metaphorical makes it a true Song of Eretz.  “Little Tides” was originally published in Northern Stars.