A False Interlude
Blank pages stare with eyes bright,
All sure words circling around,
None fall to clause or fright;
Arriving right on time, daylight.
Again silvery sunrise draws to
Azure; here is another gift, day;
But the storms offer dryness new,
To season of wetness just may,
Erase all phases as if phrases,
Need doing or telling; what
Scribes should to sunset raise;
Wait for petite careme, that
Can surprise a fertile curve;
When sunny rays dry out,
What is unpredictable like,
A haven of verbs in swerve.
The blank page transgresses,
Print, words, phrases no wrong
Thoughts arriving; sure tresses
Like daylight did with birdsong.
© gillena cox 2026
Note: The Petit Carême (or "little Lent") is a short, 2-3 week dry spell that occurs during the rainy season in Trinidad and Tobago, typically between mid-September and mid-October. It acts as a break from heavy rainfall, bringing sunny, warm weather reminiscent of an Indian Summer [info at google]


I hadn’t heard of the Petit Carême, Gillena, so thanks for teaching me something new about your lovely islands. It’s also a great metaphor for a writer’s ‘fertile curve’.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation, Kim
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Thank you for the background note and it adds my appreciation of your poem. This line is my favorite: Like daylight did with birdsong. Wishing you a good week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation, Grace
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Very nicely written, Gillena.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation, Dwight
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"A haven of verbs in swerve" 👍 Nice write Gillena 👏
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation, Shaun
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Oh, I love your poem!!! It is lush, amazingly descriptive and thoroughly engrossing.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for your appreciation, Helen
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Love the analogy of Petit Carême, Gillena! I learnt something new. 💙
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation, Punam
ReplyDeleteMuch love