Applaud

This dawn I applaud
I applaud sun’s rising
warming my hair
inviting my shadow
to make her entrance
for one more saunter
on this blessed blue marble

I applaud sun’s golden melody
applaud the way she composes
morning overture
demanding to be heard
I lift my hands in adoration
applaud inevitable dissonance
applaud promise of harmony

I applaud these early hours
the way they wrap my
body with blanketed themes
reoccurrings repetitions
some major moments
some minor cacophony

I applaud repetitions
that give me another chance
to make memories memorable
I applaud my awakened heart
for keeping the beat
I applaud my voice
improvising familiar longings

I applaud the applaud
applaud myself
for choosing to applaud
for taking one more jaunt
basking in suns gentle refrain
I applaud that I can applaud
another concert

Marianne Lyon has been a music teacher for 43 years. After teaching in Hong Kong, she returned to the Napa Valley and has been published in various literary magazines and reviews including Ravens Perch, TWJM Magazine, Earth Daughters and Indiana Voice Journal. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2017. She is a member of the California Writers Club and an Adjunct Professor at Touro University in California.