Old Porch Swing Poem – A Fall Poem About Nighttime Calm and Nature's Music
- Deborah Ann Martin
- Oct 25
- 3 min read
The Rhythm of the Swing and the Magic of the Night
This poem came from a real moment, one quiet fall evening after a long, stressful day. I sat on my old porch swing just trying to breathe, to slow down. No phone. No noise. Just me, the swing, and the world around me. There’s something about a porch swing that feels like a safe place, especially on a cool fall night.
I wrote this after a long, stressful day. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want noise. I just wanted quiet movement and fresh air. I found myself gently rocking on the swing, listening.
At first, I was just rocking back and forth with my feet, but soon I lifted them up and let the swing move on its own. That slow, familiar creaking rhythm felt almost hypnotic. The stress of the day started to melt away.
As I swayed gently, I began to really notice the world around me. The world slowly came alive… but in a soft way. The fireflies blinking across the yard, the soft chirping of crickets, the wind brushing my face, the stars shimmering above me. That’s the music of fall. The porch, the swing, the sounds of the night. They all wrapped around me like a blanket.
And then… I dozed off.
It was peace — pure and simple.
Old Porch Swing
I sit on an old porch swing.
In the darkness, bugs call and sing.
I hear the dog's far-off cry.
On the way to a light, moths flutter by.
In the sky, the moon shines bright.
The stars add twinkling lights.
The gentle breeze caresses my face.
I relax in Nature's sweet embrace.
And soothing rhythm in the swing's creek —
Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.
From the Seasons Collection
From Seasons: Poems for Early Readers
© 2025 Deborah Ann Martin. All rights reserved.
Reflection on My Fall Poem, Old Porch Swing Poem
In a world that moves too fast, where stress and anxiety often feel like a constant hum in the background, this poem is a reminder to pause. To breathe. To find your own “porch swing” — whatever that looks like for you.
Step outside. Sit still. Listen. Let your senses open up to what’s around you:
the night sounds,
the breeze,
the stars,
the silence between.
Even five quiet minutes can reset your whole day. You don’t have to fix everything. You just have to feel something real.
So go ahead — swing, rock, walk, or just sit. Let the world sing you to sleep.
This poem is a reminder that rest doesn’t have to be fancy. You don’t have to go far to reset. Sit on a swing. Sit on a step. Let the breeze touch your skin. Let the stillness remind you that you're still here.
Fall has a way of reminding us to pause, listen, and breathe.
The Style Behind the Words
Poetry Style Name: Narrative Nature Poem
Structure and Form: 10 lines, 5 rhymed couplets (AABBCC...)
Meter: Light, flowing rhythm
Tone: Peaceful, calm, reflective
Poetic Devices:
Imagery: moonlight, breeze, moths, porch swing
Alliteration: “bugs call and sing”
Personification: “Nature's sweet embrace”
Theme: Stillness, night, stress relief, peaceful nature
Explore the Seasons Collection
Old Porch Swing is part of my Seasons poetry collection, poems that help children notice the beauty in everyday moments. Whether it’s a pile of leaves or a night under the stars, these poems celebrate the little things that make each season special.
References
Seasons Poems for Early Readers. Deborah Ann Martin, 2025.
Deborah Ann Martin Amazon Author Central Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/deborahamartin
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