Coming Back


Thoughts keep coming back
of late afternoons
with the dark wings
of currawongs weaving
pathways through the high 
branches leaving long threads 
of song draped across trees -
the drifting skeins
of woodsmoke from winter fires
burning in cozy rooms,
eyes fixed in hypnotic stares 
on dancing flames and minds 
meandering the past, some
about to fall asleep.

Thoughts keep coming back
of snow falling silently 
in feathery flakes
outside the window
and in the distance, an owl's 
plaintive call going unanswered
in the thick air.
I listen to the sound of the fire,
a ticking wall clock,
breathings from beneath
a folded quiet and the drip
of melt water from somewhere
in the dark. I would like to stay
here but the fire is dying out
and its glowing embers
are nearly spent. A chill
is seeping through the cracks
opening between the past
and the present.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 5/10/2025 3:26:00 AM
This is a lovely musing. Love the 'dark wings of currawongs weaving...long threads of song'. I think of the currawongs as sewing too, as they dip in scallopped ups and downs like their voices "currawong". This reminds me of Judith Wright's South of My Day's Circle, with the fire and the lingering (only hers was a bit windier!). J :)
Login to Reply
Willason Avatar
Paul Willason
Date: 5/21/2025 5:42:00 AM
Hi Jeanette....must apologise for somehow missing your comment, hence delayed reply. Old age...well. Love your description of the currawongs...how they dip in scalloped ups and downs...how well observed and made into a great image. Must revist JW's poem...love her sharp, descriptive language. Thankyou Jeanette for your kind words. Paul
Date: 5/5/2025 7:42:00 AM
Hello Paul, How haunting and evocative meditation on memory, nature, and the quiet passage of time. As I read I thought how the currawongs weaving their dark threads through the trees feel like messengers, carrying both song and the weight of the past, echoing the spiritual symbolism of guidance, transformation, and the balance between light and dark. What a wonderful reflective, atmospheric world-your words linger like the currawong’s call at dusk. - Spring Blessings, My Friend, Daniel
Login to Reply
Willason Avatar
Paul Willason
Date: 5/7/2025 5:37:00 AM
Hi Daniel, My sincere appreciation for the thought and effort you have put into your comments on this poem...feel honored. You have certainly tuned into the mood and underlying themes...value your feedback my friend. Spring blessings accepted gratefully..here we are coming into winter. Take care, Paul
Date: 5/4/2025 3:15:00 PM
Wow Paul….a brilliant captivating poem that had me glued and there….the last line is just perfect …snapping you back to reality with a chill …..just love it my lovely friend! Debx
Login to Reply
Willason Avatar
Paul Willason
Date: 5/7/2025 5:27:00 AM
Hi Deb, Pleased that the poem connected ...thankyou for your kind words. Always valued. Take care my friend.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter