Antelucan
For Penny Fuller's The A-Z of Unusual Words Challenge - Part A
Antelucan - the time before dawn and daylight
My Connection - Many people will already know this, but I have trouble sleeping and often I am awake when it's still dark and see the sunrise and dawn. I had not heard of this word before researching for this challenge, but love that there is a word for this period of time that so often is a big part of my day. Often my wife, Ruth, who doesn't sleep well either, will be up then. While we may not have the deepest of conversations or do anything significant and I would much rather we slept well, I appreciate those hours together when it's just us before our boys are awake and before the day starts. Everything is so quiet in those times before the dawn - peaceful and beautiful.
Antelucan Acrostic
As the world sits still in wait before the dawn
not a sound can be heard, aside a rare fox call
twilight will soon be replaced by the sun's rays
ethereal those moments before dark and light meet
listen... just listen
until the call
call of the early rising birds sound the new day
as the world around us wakes, my longing returns for the
night's return, the antelucan.
(69 words)
This is for Penny Fuller's The A-Z of Unusual Words Challenge - Part A
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Paul Stewart
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'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan7 days ago in Beat
Comments (14)
I just discovered Penny Fuller's challenge and am going down reading all the pieces. First, your word is so interesting and I feel called to tuck it away and use it in a poem somewhere. Second you do such a great job with the acrostic, its light and doesn't feel heavy handed. Overall I really enjoyed this piece, the line breaks really work for it, and the imagery made me feel like I was somewhere antelucan.
Another word to add to my collection ✅… good read, both the introduction and poem💙.
This was so beautiful Paul, I love it!! Am I too much of a tool if I say the fox line is my favourite??
Oh this is divine! Absolutely transported me into the scene with each beautiful line! And I love your word choice, Paul! Seems like a perfectly fitting selection!
I'm glad I waited until I finished my own entry to read this one. It deserved the time to read carefully and ponder. Beautifully penned, my friend!! I'm also in the habit of waking at this time, and I enjoy the moments. It's especially rewarding when I'm outdoors.
Occasionally I am called upon to be out and about at such an hour and I am rarely sorry. Lovely poem.
I am often in the same habit of sleep - or the lack thereof. This is a beautifully haunting acrostic poem. Love the word choice.
I love the early dawn of the day. Wherever you may be it is always the most peaceful time of day. Like a walk with Jesus. Beautiful
Beautifully done!
just gorgeous! "antelucan" is my new favorite word 😍😍
Antelucan is a word I never knew before. As soon as you mentioned that your wife was also not sleeping, I immediately thought of a poem about antelucan love.
Not me chuckling when I saw 69 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Jokes aside, I'm so sorry you and Ruth don't get to sleep well. Loved your Paulitical poem 🍩🥐
Beautiful poem, word, and time of day. My favorite time to write, while much of the world is at rest- a calm bit of space.
Well, that was just smashing and with your paragraph of explanation too, it almost felt magical, certainly close and warm. I love the word too. What a corker! I'm going to use it for sure - maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. Beyond that, we've got to hope I can remember it.