Dawn

Dusk and Dawn are a set of two tanka poetry collections inspired by a word Joy McCall's friend, Jonathan Day, gave her each day as a writing prompt. These small words grew into poems of gentle insights into ordinary moments and interactions with the natural world. Usually we think of the trajectory of dawn to dusk. But as Joy states "it is always the darkness before the light, as it was In the Beginning!" More Description

Dusk and Dawn

are a set of two tanka poetry collections inspired by a word Joy McCall's
friend, Jonathan Day, gave her each day as a writing prompt. These small
words grew into poems of gentle insights into ordinary moments and
interactions with the natural world.

Usually we think of the trajectory of dawn to dusk. But as Joy states "it is
always the darkness before the light, as it was In the Beginning!"

Dusk is written in memory of Joy's daughter, Wendy, who passed away from
multiple sclerosis.

The opening few poems in this collection are written by family. These poems
pave the way beautifully for Joy's own poetry. Here are poems that carry
darkness on their shoulders:

I want to take
all this sadness and lay it
down in a place
where the grass grows tall
and small things run safe

And yet always looking toward the light.

In Dawn, too, I appreciated the lovely tanka written by Joy's family members
in remembrance of David, Joy's brother who passed away recently. These poems
added yet another dimension to this way of seeing.

Here again, Joy's poems find joy in the small:

looking for four,
all I find are three leafed clovers
then I understand
to be ordinary
is a fine fine thing

Dawn gives us the chance for a new beginning, illumination and hope.Simple
observations, the poetry here, as in its companion book, Dusk, is in the
clear eyed seeing.

Both poignant collection by a gifted tanka poet.

-- Lynda Monahan