After summer solstice
nothing moves —
as in
exhale of dusk
the mock-orange scent
exhausts
even the summer sibilance
of two cantankerous
crows
slowly falling asleep.
Today I host at Open Link Night at dVerse, and for the fist time we will have a real live event which will open as the bar opens at 9 PM CET (3 PM EST) and is kept open for about an hour. Please join us with your poem if you want. This is poem is for Frank’s prompt on imagism which I missed.
June 25, 2020
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Wish I could meet you all. In fhe few minutes I had, my computer would not comply. Maybe summer solstice affects technology too.
Ha.. we choose the simplest way… maybe next time we can use a more advanced platform…
This is exceptional. I just love it.
Great images! Sometimes I think I am one of those cantankerous old crows!
What a treat to see you, and hear you read the poem. I liked “as in/exhale of dusk/the mock-orange scent”. I imagine that scent like an orange jelly bean candy.
It is a very heavy jasmine like scent… almost too thick actually.
I tried to log in but, was running late. I think I missed out. I enjoyed your solstice poem. Maybe, next time we can drum together. It’s been so hot here, it feels like nothing moves as the heat is exhausting.
We have very hot weather too more than 30 degrees…
This is outstanding, Bjorn! 😀 I so admire this poem especially this part; “nothing moves — as in exhale of dusk the mock-orange scent.” It was a joy to see and hear you read today on Google Meet! 💝
This really shows how powerful creating images can be. Expertly done as always, you have a gift with making the words work magic.
Hmm, I love this scent Bjorn. And I don’t mind the heat of summer.
Thanks for hosting our live OLN!!!
It was amazing to see and hear you read this poem earlier today, Bjorn!
Nice arrangement of the words, Bjorn. It must be a scorcher there. It’s sustaining high 60’s here the past few days with a pleasant breeze.
We have almost 90 during the day with almost no breeze and no A/C. Some people really long for their office that is so much cooler…
It doesn’t usually get that hot in Sweden does it? 90 with no breeze is no fun.
I could smell the blossom … thanks for organising the open mic reading!
That is one long dusk, with your late sunsets. I’d think that would prolong that falling asleep.
This is beautiful and the use of sibilance is sublime. The length also invokes the sense of an eternal moment and it reinforces the subject. I wish I’d been able to join the live event but will try to follow more closely and catch the next one.
I think we will do it again… now when everyone has a good setup to work from home.
Although , India is a tropical country and has hot summers!, but this poem ,makes summer feel like a magic!!
As soon as I saw the title, Björn, I thought of the trees in our garden and the sounds they make – summer sibilance is a perfect way to describe them, and you’ve captured the sounds in your word choice.. Although nothing moves anywhere else, our garden retains a breeze, probably because we’re beside a river, or maybe it’s the spirits that live here. I love the phrase ‘as in exhale of dusk’ and the cantankerous crows’. Our magpie never seems to sleep!
It is like a pause in the world. Even the crows are taking a break! (K)
VVonderful poem, just the first lines filled my mind vvith visions of the past last midsummer day I had spent in nature. Like hiking in the forest and going to the seaside, vvhere vve actually have a 6km long sand beach. Kinda surreal to be suddenly on a beach like California… Your poem captured the scorch of it too.
And had a nevv vvord for me! cantankerous, so thank you for that too! 😉
Thanks for hosting and the meet has to happen someday again!
Beautiful poetry! The alliterations work so nicely.
I love the exhale of dusk… this is exceptional.
I love that new to me word “sibilance” but my spell check doesn’t recognize it. The 17 year cicada just stopped their summer drone and now I feel like one of those crows. So many naps.
Beautiful piece of poetry, I particularly love the image of the two cantankerous crows slowly falling asleep. Thanks for the read
Nice alliteration. I like the mock~orange scent
evokes Goethe for me, the birds are asleep in the trees.
Dusk exhaling the days exchanges. the day as one long breath.
I like the spareness in this, Bjorn and that “mock-orange scent”
JIM
The hush of the heated surrounded by the mock-orange scent. Nicely done.
I love this! So serene. It whispers and tickles the senses.