-- The Best Part of the Day --

by John Herlihy

The very best part of the day.

Who can say, yes, who can say.

The dawn

The best part of the day,

This much I will indeed say.

The dying night laid to rest,

Dawn lights the day’s crest.

The morning

The long shadows shortening,

The day’s hours lengthening.

The day lies there in the hours,

Fresh buds turning into flowers.

The noon meridian

Dazzling display of day’s light,

Opposite to the hour of midnight.

Moment of rest, lunch, midway mark,

Listen to wind chimes in the breeze, hark

Late afternoon

A brief siesta, a time for slumber,

A later afternoon storm, thunder.

Again, the lazy, lengthening shadows,

Spreading their shade on the meadow.

The twilight

Have we finally arrived,

In the best part of the day to survive.

End of one thing beginning of another,

Day and night acting as sister and brother.

The evening

The best part of the day

In the remains of the day in play.

The evening to look forward,

The day done, now rearward.

Greetings to sunlight’s smile,

Farewell to twilight’s frown.

The day serves us in style,

The night wears stars as crown.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Saturday 7 September 2024