Frozen tundra’s cold
Fireplace consumes final log—
When will winter end?
Sunny skies, all blue
Winter’s Arctic deception—
Days of lasting chills
Warm, westerly winds
Chinook’s welcome arrival—
Winter’s escape plan
Nasty winter gale approaching
Forecast broadcasting storm warning
Heavy snow, high winds, Arctic cold
Village alarms sound by morning
Life transcends to total frenzy
Salt trucks loaded, very much ready
Snow plow crews set for night’s work
Village life scrambling, unsteady
Packed grocery stores in chaos
Hurried, panic-filled shopping carts
Shelves urgently growing empty
Village pace quickens beating hearts
Students anticipate closings
Looking forward, lazy “Snow Day”
No classes, no books, no lessons
Village hunkers down, people pray
Winter storm “Tabitha” churning
Pondering, bewitching blizzard
Overnight fury passes on
Village eluding storm’s wizard
The Weather Channel has been naming winter storms in America since 2012-2013. You may have picked up the connection between the “bewitching” blizzard and the name of the storm “Tabitha.” Tabitha is one of the available winter storm names for the 2020-2021 winter. Tabitha is also the daughter of Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) on the successful American sitcom “Bewitched” from 1964-1972.
Originally posted February, 2021.
Pre-dawn’s innocence
Preview with minimal light—
Sunrise holding back
Epic cataract
Lazy river’s destiny—
Crushing waters roar
Creator’s spirit
Tall grasses reach to heavens—
Prairie much alive
Darkness transformed by sunrise
Energy welcomes new day
Nurturing all living things
Creation’s welcome ballet
Light sprinkles from each raindrop
Nourishment covers this land
Offering prized refreshment
Creation’s spirit as planned
Landscape transformed once again
Yesterday’s page turns over
Embracing scene’s blessed touch
Creation’s own makeover
Peace rises with ocean tides
Gentleness coming ashore
Earmarking time’s tomorrow
Creation’s open front door
Patience streams through nature’s heart
River’s living waters flow
Quenching eternity’s thirst
Creation’s whispers aglow
Endless, winding path
River’s poetic treasures—
Unique in spirit
Flowing with purpose
River chases horizon—
Map never needed
Night’s curtain rises
River’s peace always on time—
Morning’s stillness breathes
A blade of grass is the journeywork of the stars.
The poet judges not as judge judges but as the sun falling around a helpless thing.
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of America’s most influential poets. His writing prowess was not only evident in his poems, but also in his work as a journalist and essayist.
Autumn’s fading pulse
Winter’s joy arrives
Bearing gifts from darkness
Morning’s sky alive
Welcome transition
Wood stove’s warmth alive
Sharing gifts from darkness
Morning’s peace high-five
Clearest eastern sky
Alarm clock shows five
Yielding gifts from darkness
Morning’s grace now thrives
Crisp winter sunrise
Treasured light now thrives
Raising gifts from darkness
Morning’s spirit drives
Clouds moving away
Distant light shall drive
Bearing gifts from darkness
Morning’s breath survives
Winter’s white blanket covers frozen land
Sheltering nature’s glory until spring
Arctic-fed winds seem to blow from glaciers
Sleeping quietly, life conceals its zing
Northernmost Great Lakes transform skies to gray
Flying above, geese enjoy winter’s fling
Small ponds reflect from thick, icy mirrors
Pausing all around, boldness waits for spring
Ancient trees appear to wait in repose
Ignoring life’s deep freeze, buds holding out
Nature’s winter rest, preparing for spring
Arriving tonight, snowstorm’s final shout
Never to worry, winter fades away
Coming on schedule, spring colors each day
Originally published January, 2021.
Gray sky flies overhead
Winter’s cold arrives
Autumn now asleep
Chilling nature’s hard drive
Spirit fills every tree
Spring postpones her speech
Peace lands with each flake
Covering whitest beach
Silence rejoins landscape
Yet, very much alive
Transfusion hidden
Feeding grace to survive
Arctic freeze now coming
Double seal each hatch
Ship awaits next storm
Traversing icy patch
Night’s dreams seeking comfort
Winter’s frost deploys
Hope’s blanket of snow
Snuggling beneath warmth’s joy
Raking piles of leaves
Trees now empty of color—
Autumn’s leftovers
Morning’s icy breath
Winter playing hide ‘n seek—
Goodbye autumn friend
Lonely tree branches
Always full of memories—
Final leaf falling
Big Sky Buckeye 