Free Verse, Poem

Before Dawn

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for dVerse Prosery: T.S. Eliot and
J. Alfred Prufrock. Björn, our host, challenges
us to write a poem of 144 words including the
highlighted line from “The Love Song of
J. Alfred Prufrock”. Here is my poem.

© Shutterstock

The day began in quiet, soft and slow,
I woke to see the world beyond my glass
All changed to grey, a heavy, silent cloak.
The tall oak tree became a blurry shape,
The houses opposite just shadows in the dark.
No sound of cars, no children’s happy shouts,
Just stillness deep that settled everywhere.
And then I saw it moving, soft and thick,
A creeping presence, silent as a cat.
The yellow fog that rubs its back
upon the window-panes,
It pressed against the walls, a gentle weight,
And made the room feel smaller, safe and warm.
The world outside was hidden, out of reach,
A mystery wrapped in golden, hazy light.
I watched it cling and drift, then softly move
Away again, a breath held and released,
Leaving behind a quiet, misty peace.
The day went on, still hushed beneath its spell.

NAR©2025
144 Words

This is “The Dark Before The Dawn” by Andrew Peterson

Prosery: T.S. Eliot and J. Alfred Prufrock

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

18 thoughts on “Before Dawn”

  3. Your poem settles in a place of peace awakening in the new day. These lines really stand out for me as a reader.

    Just stillness deep that settled everywhere.
    And then I saw it moving, soft and thick,
    A creeping presence, silent as a cat.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your very gracious comments, Kim. There’s a sliver of time in the morning just before dawn when the world outside my bedroom window is enveloped in silence, a gentle hug between by night and day. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to see it; other times I sleep right through! That was the ‘feeling’ I was going for in my verse. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts today..

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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