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Tom Lyons wrote a lot of poetry in the 70’s and 80’s and had some success being published in a couple of poetry magazines. His jobs as an Auditor, a COO, and a Management Consultant kept him on the road for nearly 30 years. Fifteen years ago, he bought the New England Mobile Book Fair, at the time the largest independent brick-and-mortar book store in New England, where, among author events, he started hosting well-attended poetry readings. Inspired again to create, this led to forming a poetry group that meets twice a month. Some of his poems have appeared in the Muddy River Review and Boston Literary Magazine. He has appeared on Somerville and Milton local TV. Tom is also a member of the Bagel Bards. His first book of poetry, Luna Moth, has been well received, having sold more than 600 copies to date, and is going into its fifth printing. His new book, The Beautiful Army, is being compiled by Big Table Publishing and should be available shortly. One of the new poems is presented here.

Morning Prelude

Tom Lyons

Dawn approaches,
the lake more glass than water.
Breaking the silence, the purr
of the engine, the only sound
as I slowly ease away from the dock.
The bow pushes the stillness aside,
ripples disturb the water behind.
I aim for the heavy lake fog
A mile beyond, slowly, steadily.
I focus on the cloud ahead
until I’m enveloped by this morning vapor.
I must appear to have been swallowed up
to any distant on-lookers.
The engine cut, the boat settles.
The calm returns to the surrounds,
the lake again at rest.
I sit with no vantage point, no view
save the curtain of haze keeping company
I am alone, the world hidden—
It from me, me from it.
There is comfort in my solitude.
A perfect peace for a time.
A quiet lapping of water against the hull
accompanying my daydreams.

The lake dwellers begin to awaken
The mist slowly dissipates, the sunlight
displacing it.
The duties of life resume
and I must travel back to shore,
to the reality of living.

— Tom Lyons © 2026

To have your work considered for the Lyrical send it to:
Doug Holder, 25 School St.; Somerville, MA 02143
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