Dolce Poems

Dolce Far Niente

Sun glistens through the curtains 
plays with the cracks on the walls
a few floating clouds catch my eye.
I stretch out , almost gracefully like a cat.
As my feet touch cold wooden floorboards I grab a cosy blanket 
to wrap myself in,
while tiptoeing to the kitchen to make some tea.
Oh the sweetness of doing nothing 
I thought and I smiled and sipped my tea.

Dolce Far Niente

The sweetness of doing nothing in a day
On umber earth and mid birds singing in spring.

Spending leisure time in a suspended
Bed hung up by each end between two trees.

We sit gazing at the heavens in the clear night sky,
A theater of dancing stars flitting with the moon.

Hymn lull of tickling leaves as the breeze blows
Through; its slender tendrils raking  through.

Soft glow; against the wakeful night darkness
As the moon dappled light pirouette on our face.

Dolce Far Niente

running,
                  and running,
                  and running 
           on a spinning wheel 
   like an indefatigable hamster;
                   persisting... 
                    on and on 
          as dawn creeps into 
             dusk's front door 
     and makes a backyard exit,
  a dyed-in-the-wool workaholic 
       can barely move a limb
          after slaving through 
            his graveyard shift.
he's finally home early morning;
    body and spirit, exhausted.
   with a cold brew in his hand,
                he leans back 
   on his comfortable recliner 
          and takes a big gulp...
              a   h   h   h   h ! ! !
          temporary freedom 
     from back-breaking work 
                 never tasted 
               so refreshing!! 
         he's earned his right 
          to be blissfully idle 
          throughout the day.
       he's got hours of sleep 
              to catch up on!

Dolce Far Niente

I come into a time and place
At peace within a vast estate

Beneath me warms the verdant earth
Above the sun of cosmic birth

Drifts calmly down with feathered hands
To hold me spellbound on the land

And all around the summer breeze
Gambols lightly in the trees – 

It whispers vaguely, far away
A quiet murmur, as a prayer

Crooning softly in my ear
As if it knows that I can hear

The beauty of a tranquil day
Enough for me to want to stay

And lose myself in nothingness
In realms of carefree idleness

At peace within a vast estate
While passing through this time and place

Dolce Far Niente

'dolce far niente', is an Italian idiom means 'sweetness of doing nothing


It's humdrum of work twenty four seven
thrumming a suffocated heart to burnout
too many tabs open in frantic switching
moments of leisure in despair and doubt.

Can't I pause a while to look around nature?
a peacock dancing to tunes of a cuckoo,
when worries vanish in a world of euphoria 
lying on a hammock, there's nothing to do.

A simple miracle, the two little sparrows, 
captivated I ask, what are your names?
they flit around, twitching with a squirrel
finding hidden nuts, adventure fun games.

Mr Time is no warden...dolce far niente
in shade of siesta, there's no feeling of guilt
no gems sparkle, only with uncut diamonds,
precious spare moments, a Heaven is built

Dolce Far Niente

Let your mind reset
Let go of all the small things
Release the big things

Unwind and enjoy
Take time to smell the sweetness
That life offers us

One day to the next
Release your inner demons
On paper with pen

Then throw it away
Creating a clean new slate
Setting a new tone

Living your best day
May not be in Italy
Ohio's a start

9-7-23

Dolce Far Niente

"Buonjiorno carina, hello sweetheart" 
he says with a smile and a stroke of goatee 
Her acqua di Gio is fantasy art,      
un dolce far niente that lingered in scent; 

"La Spiaggia, the beach?"  
he points on to it with a grin and two roving eyes. 
Her manners are suave she just smiles then moves on 
"Ti Prego, I Beg You " 
he says as he follows the trail of her sensuos bod,  
lost in the luxury of un dolce far niente;
"Arrivederci amore mio, goodbye my love"
she whispers to the air that clings to her sultry dress.
 
Scattered showers of desire run through his veins,  
she's Italian this vixen and only she, holds the reins.

Dolce Far Niente

Slowly, Mickey Mouse wafted by
as I gazed at the cerulean sky.
The warmth of a cool Chardonnay
I’d sipped at the end of the day;
had me drift in and out of a sleep.

As Mickey transformed to a sheep
all my thoughts coast into a haze.
While the hammock so gently sways
my conscious is thoroughly freed,
from the book I intended to read.

The sheep, soon pierced by a jet;
floats like a fluffy barrette
past the tops of the trees
blown by the soft summer breeze
as the last of the cobwebs dissolve.

I’ll make it my earnest resolve,
I say to myself, or out loud,
as I watch another white cloud,
troubles can take a backseat;
doing nothing at all is so sweet.

Dolce Far Niente

Turning sideways, once more I lay crouched in bed,
Not compelled to wake up and run round the clock.
The family, gone on a four-day adventurous trip.
Left to myself, may I devour this calm with none to block.

Listening to the hiss of falling rain, here I lie.
The breeze that steals in through the window ajar,
Tousles my hair and briskly passes,
I hear a Bulbul warbling from a tree afar.

Snuggling beneath my woolly blanket,
With deadlines none, I feel so light.
Lazily watching the sun beams filtering down,
I lie quiet, my mind, like a bird in flight.

Now the house is empty with my own space,
To indulge in all fanciful things that gladden,
To indolently watch the time slipping by,
To hum and sing in gay abandon. 

Loneliness, at times I warmly embrace,
When exhausted with life’s ceaseless mess.
At times I crave for dolce far niente
It sure can revamp lives with occasional recess.

Dolce Far Niente

Oh, the sweetness of doing nothing-
Enjoying the emptiness of time;
The letting go of doing something-
exulting our life- serene, sublime.

Just living in those moments turning
Perhaps to hours of perfect bliss. 
As hearts and minds fulfill the yearning
For peacefulness we surely miss.

To close our eyes, start reminiscing
The special blessings that fill each day;
As busy lives may start dismissing
That time of grace to thank and pray-

And let God know that life is something-
Even when we're doing nothing.

Dolce Far Niente

Touched by early sunlight
I sit barefoot by the window
and allow thoughts to drift.

I ask the day
to wake me gently
although knowing
my life lies ahead.

But not yet,
I ask—
let this moment linger.

I allow errant thoughts
to drift as they whisper—

I haven’t even dressed
and showered yet.

Soft light eases
my transition to the day
and my ears ring
while last night’s dream lingers.

Dolce Far Niente

 

The sweetness of doing nothing is hard,
to take chitchat in your head and discard;
embracing doing nothing is divine,
oh, I love silence where nothing is heard !

Not an idleness but letting thoughts twine,
to lay in a cozy place and recline;
this is a good skill that can be bring peace,
oh, lay in quietness sweetly supine !

Perhaps a walk in nature is release,
we need this as life's worries just increase;
oh, why not watch the swans and ducks drifting,
and all your sad life scars will soon decrease ! 

Do this and all your cares will be lifting,
your outlook attitude will be shifting;
find the great value of your relaxed mind,
though, sad memories will be resisting !

Dolce Far Niente

Dolce far niente – it’s sweet
to do simply nothing. So say
those who find idleness a treat.
We should try this Italian way!

For a change – eat lunch all alone.
Dolce far niente – it’s sweet.
Turn off the TV and cell phone.
Meal time does not have to be fleet.

Take your lover’s hand; walk the street.
Leave behind dishes in the sink.
Dolce far niente – it’s sweet
to pass time not just in a blink.

Feel no guilt just to sit outside.
Neighbors with a smile you can greet.
Dream a little dream; in peace abide.
Dolce far niente – it’s sweet.

Dolce Far Niente -2nd Place

Dolce far niente 
Le menti creativo devono essere convenienti
Soothe your body, calm your soul 
You need soundness to reach your goal 

From nothingness came every story 
And serene mind is road to glory 
Draw your spirit to right reason 
To feast with coming of the season 

Eat, love and pray
Like everyday is holiday 
Put your worries, be happy 
And try not much to be sappy 

2nd place

Dolce Far Niente

In the cacophonic chaos of life I seek peace,
delve into my soul’s serene niche,
perceive the pleasure of nothingness 
in the void and tranquil depth of bliss,
where I savor the sweetness of solitude.

In the lonely island of life I like to be 
suffused with supine shower of quietude, 
find at the inert depth within a new me, 
turned into a hermit I realize it as my reality, 
in the quiescent insight I lose my duality. 

As the full moon traverses my sleepy sky, 
night’s opaque aloneness the stardust dilutes, 
I drink eyeful while indolent time passes me by. 
Mind gets drenched in delight my inaction elutes, 
and in charmed trance of rapture I become mute.

Across the still sea of my serene soul,
the alluring horizon of love 
I long to see wait at the edge of eternity, 
where my yearning soars through emptiness
with the idyll thoughts in my idle time.

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