Here and Now

by Belinda Munoz on November 2, 2010

november

The November air
Thick with fog
Scents of autumnal dew
Caressing leaves shriveling
Before slipping to the sodden ground
Without a sound

The sun
Swallowed by ebonized skies
Shines long after
Tiny toddlers have shaken
The dutiful sleep
Off their sprightly limbs

The mood, a mix of
Feasting and longing
A seasonal duel
With breathing and dying
Another ordinary day
Like so many other days…

Aging him
Humbling her
Wrinkling their toughened hearts
Still, they wonder, How will I
Make this day count?
Because one can.

vintage-microphone-vector-thumb2289339[1]

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  • Do you always know that you can make each day count?
  • Do you embrace here and now and all its possibilities?
  • Or do you run away from it?

This is for One Shot Wednesday.

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Image by join the dots

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November 3, 2010 at 12:48 pm

{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Glynn November 2, 2010 at 2:47 pm

This is written like it’s the autumn of one’s life — and the question is how to make things count now. As long as the question is asked, there’s hope.

Good poem.

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2 Claudia November 2, 2010 at 2:49 pm

belinda – what a beautiful capture of an autumn day!
my fav lines…Tiny toddlers have shaken
The dutiful sleep
Off their sprightly limbs…so lovely – you make me see them!

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3 Dia November 2, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Hi Belinda,

Very nice! I love the way you write. We always have to make each day count. Each day is special and should not be wasted. Thanks for sharing

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4 ayala November 2, 2010 at 3:00 pm

Belinda, I love your poem. Every day is a gift if we don’t lose sight of what matters most.
Each day need to count , it is the only day we are promised! Thanks for another great poem!

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5 Desert Rose November 2, 2010 at 3:16 pm

Beautiful autumn capture here Belinda! totally spectacular..:)thank you for sharing such beauty with us! Lovely one shot..:)

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6 patty sherry November 2, 2010 at 3:21 pm

reminds me of Peaceful Warrior, theres always something going on. Yes, being in the now and making it count. Love it! xo

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7 poemblaze November 2, 2010 at 3:48 pm

A lot of strong, vivid imagery in your poem.

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8 Patti November 2, 2010 at 3:50 pm

I’m with Glynn. This reads like the musings of someone in the autumn of their lives, after the children are grown and gone. But metaphor or not, it’s a lovely piece. And the picture… wow!

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9 dustus November 2, 2010 at 3:51 pm

Great autumnal landscape you paint that emphasizes impermanence, as well as the desire to make the most of life. Great work.

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10 Katie November 2, 2010 at 4:00 pm

I don’t always remember that I can make each day count but I do know that I can make small differences in the lives of those I live with and those I communicate with daily by trying to be light, positive, loving and inspiring in my words and actions.

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11 Colleen November 2, 2010 at 4:06 pm

Yes, lets make the day count. A new day everyday to do with what we will. Lets make the most of it.

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12 Patty - Why Not Start Now? November 2, 2010 at 4:48 pm

This speaks volumes to me, Belinda: “A seasonal duel with breathing and dying.” Such a potent reminder to make each day count.

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13 Aging Mommy November 2, 2010 at 5:47 pm

I try to remind myself that every single day really is a new day – whatever happened the day before or week before is of no consequence in many respects, you can start over, anew, make amends, do it right.

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14 AW November 2, 2010 at 7:06 pm

Wonderful image! Great question in the end – would we all ask this.

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15 Shashi November 2, 2010 at 8:22 pm

Great painting with words and so beautifully it came out.. thanks for sharing…

ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com

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16 David K Wheeler November 2, 2010 at 10:42 pm

Seasons and weather make for good material, don’t they.

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17 rob white November 3, 2010 at 6:38 am

How timely, Belinda. I just came in from my morning walk here in New England and autumn was expressing itself fully today! Appreciation, appreciation, appreciation is the best way to make any day count.

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18 pete marshall November 3, 2010 at 7:33 am

what a wonderful poem…agree very much with glynn as you could read this a few ways…thanks for sharing pete

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19 Lady Nyo November 3, 2010 at 7:34 am

Beautiful! You captured Fall, and gave it connectiveness with humanity.

Lovely poem.

Lady Nyo

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20 jincy November 3, 2010 at 7:37 am

lovely poem… every day is counted just wen u start to cherish and appreciate it…

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21 The Exception November 3, 2010 at 7:40 am

Making it last – The Autumn of the year, the Autumn of life, and even the Autumn of each day as the hours of dark increase. Wonderfully written Belinda.

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22 The Exception November 3, 2010 at 7:40 am

And – Thanks for introducing me to One Shot Wednesday!

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23 brian November 3, 2010 at 7:43 am

like glynn i feel the autumn of ones life and the pondering maybe even of what is left to do and how can you still make a difference…and you can…

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24 Eric Alder November 3, 2010 at 7:49 am

A day can, indeed, make all the difference. Nice One Shot, Belinda!

P.S. – Love that photo!

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25 bkmackenzie November 3, 2010 at 8:36 am

Making the day count…lovely poem with a wonderful ending that makes us realise each day is so special….bkm

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26 Eva @ EvaEvolving November 3, 2010 at 10:38 am

Wow, Belinda, this is a tall order: how do I make today count? My first thought is through some small favor, some act of kindness that I don’t expect or even hope to have returned. Or maybe quality time with my family. Or learning something, anything, that captures my imagination. There are so many ways you can measure whether the day counted or not – and I suppose that’s the beauty of it. The important thing is that we’re asking the question at all.

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27 Lovely Annie November 3, 2010 at 12:00 pm

you write with presence…a presence that is rooted in the moment…lovely poem and a beautiful picture as well.

Thank you!

http://itslovelyannie.com/2010/11/02/there-is-no-place/

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28 Chris G. November 3, 2010 at 12:27 pm

Vivid, imagery-delightful piece. You’re certainly captured an autumn day on one level, and on the other, given us a poem that makes us realize the worth of a single day–got to make the most of an impermanent situation. Fine piece for the One Shot!

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29 Rudri November 3, 2010 at 12:29 pm

There are days when I live with purpose, but other days are filled with random nothings. In retrospect, I need both, but it takes stepping away from that particular day to realize this. Whether the day counts is completely up to the individual and his or her perception.

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30 Victoria November 3, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Belinda, this poem is absolutely exquisite. I’m in the autumn of my life, edging closer to the winter…you’ve captured that feeling. I enjoyed browsing your blog. Note that you live in SF…we moved here to Reno from Half Moon Bay. We’re almost neighbors. Love the City.
Enjoy the rest of autumn and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Victoria

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31 Rene Foran November 3, 2010 at 2:18 pm

breathe in, breathe out, everyday…make it count

I love how the leaf in the photo looks like it’s clinging on for dear life…
tenacious l’il sucker :)

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32 Steve Isaak November 3, 2010 at 3:44 pm

Great nature-centric/image poem.

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33 Fr. Michael November 3, 2010 at 4:22 pm

Belinda,

Beautiful poem…as always. Funny you bring up embracing the here and now. That’s something I’ve really been meditating upon lately, and I find that autumn is a season that invites us into that meditation most poetically.

Peace!

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34 SuziCate November 3, 2010 at 6:01 pm

Very nice image for a beautiful Fall, but I love this best “The sun
Swallowed by ebonized skies
Shines long after
Tiny toddlers have shaken
The dutiful sleep
Off their sprightly limbs”

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35 Gabriela Abalo November 4, 2010 at 7:06 am

picture and poem are truly awesome!

:)

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36 Tess The Bold Life November 4, 2010 at 3:01 pm

Belinda,
Yes to fall and yes to making life count. There are so many big and little ways to make a differance every second, minute, hour and day. A simple smile, holding open a door, supporting a friend. I love that I know this and make up for any time I forget. I miss fall…the smells, colors and especially the grapes.

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37 Reflections November 4, 2010 at 8:22 pm

Love your use of imagery and contrasts. Nice write.

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38 Aileen November 5, 2010 at 12:43 am

Belinda this poem is so beautiful and multi layered. It gives the wonderful feel of autumn both the season and season of life (as Glynn said) .

It’s a kind reminder to take in the day and honor it by making it count and noticing it’s specialness.

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39 Bob Bessette November 7, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Hi Belinda,
Wonderful poem and my answer to the question
“Do you always know that you can make each day count?” is Yes. I have learned especially later in life that every day can and should count. I embrace it as best I can with my loved ones because you never know when it can end. You simply have to live each day because that is all we have. Thanks for sharing your beautiful writing with the world.
Best,
Bob

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