Hark! The Lark! by Edilson Afonso Ferreira

A Voice From the Cliffs, by Winslow Homer (USA) 1883

Hark! The Lark! 
 
Three young women standing on a hillside, 
no doubt fisher girls at a break in their daily tasks, 
spellbound and transfixed by the call of a skylark, 
strain and ethereal sound that descends 
from its hovering flight.  
Fascinated and worried, they certainly think 
on people’s ancient beliefs that some bird’s songs
foreshadow a bad omen, or at least, warn us 
for dangers in the future.  
Painted scene by Homer, in his summer season 
at the fishing community in Cullercoats, England.
But now we know that these well-shown concerns 
did not materialize.  
Winter and tempests which followed did not weaken  
the vigor and healthy yearnings of so industrious 
and happy that community.
An example for all of us, not worry on winters 
and tempests, that will, undoubtedly, be frightening us,
by upcoming days and scenes of our lives. 

Edilson Afonso Ferreira 

Mr. Ferreira, 78 years, is a Brazilian poet who writes in English rather than in Portuguese. Widely published in selected international literary journals in print and online, he began writing at age 67, after his retirement from a bank. Has been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, and his first Poetry Collection, Lonely Sailor - One Hundred Poems - was launched in London, in 2018. He is always updating his works at www.edilsonmeloferreira.com.