I am participating in Laura Shovan’s February Poetry Project over on Facebook. The prompts around Time are varied and interesting. Buffy Silverman posted photos of animal prints in snow. But my attention went somewhere else as soon as I drove to school and witnessed the phenomenon of a fog bow. I googled “White rainbow” to find out that a fog bow is similar to a rainbow, but the sun is shining through fog rather than rain. A cemetery is across the street from my morning school. I took some pictures of the fog bow over the cemetery and actually pointed it out to a parent in the parking lot. She obviously had somewhere else to be.
Fog Bow
Making excuses
for being late,
this morning a white rainbow
rising above white tombs.Science tells me it’s the fog–
diffraction of small water droplets.I shout to another driver
probably running late like me.See! Look!
Amazement lost in the rev of an engine.
Nature’s marker of time doesn’t need
a watch or digital reminder
of what to do when.This gift.
Margaret Simon, draft 2/10/22
This sign.
I’ll take it as Mine.
Reflections on the Teche 
My goodness…white rainbow above the tombs is an incredible phrase. Wow. Thank you for sharing such a gift with us. I’m off to jump in my car. I promise to see…to look!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fog bow. Thanks for taking the time to notice and wonder. I paused and reread at your repetition of white. Lovely.
I like that you incorporated your experience with that woman who hurried off. She missed some joy, didn’t she? I’m happy you stopped, shared with us, then wrote. Yes, it is yours!
Margaret, it is good to read your poem again and hear the backstory. When nature offers a surprise, it is good to stop and honor it. It is amazing how some people just rush through life.
I think it’s worth being a few minutes late to gaze on your fog bow, take in some of nature and carry her with you. Thanks for your gift poem and pic and for taking notice- all spread tingly good feelings!
Margaret, I’ve never heard of a fog bow. Thank you for sharing this one with us. I especially love the lines “This gift. This sign. I’ll take it as Mine.” Wow!
This stanza says it all,
“Nature’s marker of time doesn’t need
a watch or digital reminder
of what to do when.”
So glad you know what to do when, too–Like make time to appreciate a marvel and then write a poem about it 🙂
I have never seen a fog Bow before, but I’m so glad you took the time to be present in nature, enjoyed her “white rainbow”, took a pic, wrote a poem, and shared it all with us. Your last lines are so true and emotional; I love them! “This gift. This sign.” It’s yours. I think all poets are kindred spirits because they stop, take time to observe the details, ponder it, then weave a poem about it sharing their experience. Beautiful post and poem, Margaret. 🙂
Yes! I love taking those signs as Mine! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Oh, I love this–the image, its import, the way you contrast the miracle with the rush and rev of the engine, our failure to pause. Glad you could claim it as yours.
oh my! My sister lives in the central valley (CA) and she recently sent me a photo of a fog bow (along with her poem)! But “white rainbow” — that is a beautiful word image! Thank you!