Winter Moon
Waiting for Sunrise
On a sleepless night,
my cat squats on my shoulder
gnawing on my dreams.
Awake or dreaming,
I leave my son’s empty room,
his bed still unmade.
Under the moon's spell,
I watch my father’s shadow
circling the lake’s rim.
He walks with purpose
like the man I once adored--
and not ten years dead.
Brimming with questions,
I whisper, “Dada, please tell
me, will my son live?”
While toads bellow, he
laughs. “That I’m dead doesn't mean
I know everything.”
"We are all living,”
he says, “We’re just thin membranes
to eternity”
Around the lake's edge
the sound of toads and crickets
undone by moonlight
Then winter showers.
The moon sits on the wet grass
listens to barred owls.
At the hospital
doctors greet me by the stairs.
I'm a veteran.
Through rain-streaked windows
on a cramped hospital chair—
no stars in the sky
Nurses come and go
on nights when the only thing
longer is my grief.
The world is a blur.
After waiting for sunrise
my breath grows shorter.
My son‘s fever breaks.
I lift my head from prayers.
The first sign of light.
About the Creator
Geoffrey Philp
I'm a Jamaican writer. I write poems, stories & essays about climate change, Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, haiku & haibun. I've published a graphic novel for children, "My Name is Marcus." For more info, visit: https://www.geoffreyphilp.com/
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Keep reading
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Center Stage with Gina C.
*** I'm keen to republish the interviews I did for my series with Vocal creators. It's been a few years and I thought it might be nice to revisit these wonderful conversations. I'll be releasing them one at a time for a few weeks/months.
By Heather Hubler5 days ago in Interview
Comments (25)
❤️❤️❤️❣️
It brought a lump to my throat as I envision the scene 🙃
Beautiful
“We’re just thin membranes to eternity” evoked a deep pause. Incredible writing. "...On nights when the only thing longer is my grief." I think we all felt that. I feel the "first sign of light" along with the writer. Written with a wisened heart for having looked through the lens of generation and the veil of death.
This poem is such a beautifully written and emotional journey that takes the reader through the generations and ideas of family, life, and death. Congrats on your win!
The connected spectrum of emotions and states of being is what makes this poem for me. Great stuff.
Congratulations on placing in the challenge! What a great poem!
The sentiment really comes across, Congrats!
The moon
Congratulations due Got second place in full moon chalange ✨🤩✨🌠✨✨🌠✨😊✨💝💝🔥
Brilliant work!!
Excellent!
Excellent!!! Congratulations on the win!!!
I loved this and your use of metaphors throughout the piece. It painted a haunting and relatable story. Subscribed, and looking forward to more!
Beautiful
This is so well put together, congratulations
Great piece, you painted some lovely imagery.
This si such a heartfelt, soulful poem. Love it. Congratulations
This is beautiful. Congrats!
Congratulations 🎉 🙏💯❤️🎯👍😉❤️🔥Awesome work ❗❗
beautiful
Congratulations, Geoffrey! This was wonderfully executed.
It was such a journey reading this poem.
Beautiful, haunting piece. Congratulations. It's well deserved.
Hey. Some very beautifully haunting imagery here. A deserving piece, Geoffrey