Monday Memories: Winter’s Arctic Grip

man in brown parka jacket walking beside woman in maroon coat

Photo by Immortal shots on Pexels.com

Bone-chilling winds turn life upside down today

Delivering frigid, Arctic storms to every town

Thickening ice, spreading across the lake’s bay

People running straight into gusts, heads down

 

Wind chimes endlessly sing a winter-filled blast

Watching the thermometer effortlessly dive

Wondering, how long will this deep freeze last?

Somehow, everyone remains warm and thrives

 

The townsfolk cope, accepting winter’s greed

Facing long, harsh winters, most every year

Helping others to survive, when one’s in need

Winter’s severity never brings about fear

 

Finally one day, the wind changes its sound

Pitching warmer air, by way of a chinook

Lightening the load for everyone around

Smiles arrive, from every cranny and nook

 

Spring will soon send out her welcoming band

Replacing life’s burdens, with warmer wishes

Surviving winter’s struggles across the land

Winter to spring, life crosses familiar bridges

man standing on riverbank

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Originally published February, 2020.

Monday Memories: Snowbound

white snowy environment with pine trees

Photo by Adam Lukac on Pexels.com

Bright afternoon blues began to darken

Winter’s cold blanket prepares to descend

Snowflakes twirling and dancing, at first glance

Ol’ Man Winter, with a message to send

 

Grandfather clock proclaims each passing hour

Intricate flakes, magnified in their size

Winter’s harsh intensity growls and howls

Like a hungry wolf, seeking his one prize

 

Outside, barren landscape feels overwhelmed

Pristine white now nature’s color tonight

Modest cabin remains toasty and warm

Ancient kitchen stove consumes wood all night

 

Staying indoors, cozy and safe

Snowy frenzy roars, no ending in sight

Minutes turn to hours, forwarding to days

Snowbound but home, never a hopeless plight

snowy brown house near tree

Photo by Evelyn Chong on Pexels.com

 

Originally published February, 2020.

Cloudy Overhead (Haiku Series #195)

Cat and Mouse

Clouds mask over joy

Morning sunrise hesitates—

Playing peek-a-boo

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Brilliant Transition

Escaping again

Stormy clouds migrate away—

Rainbow’s colors smile

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Big Show Coming

Clouds’ darkness building

Thunderstorms brewing tempest—

Restless night ahead

Photo by Lachlan Ross on Pexels.com

Summer Heats Up

Photo by Gustavo Rodrigues on Pexels.com

Dog days of summer arrive

Sweating from moist, humid heat

Corn lifting up to heavens

Backyard grilling offers eats

 

Morning sun heats up quickly

Sweltering hot by high noon

Swimming pools usually packed

Closed by afternoon monsoons

 

Workers staying hydrated

Drinking water without end

Temperatures set record

Weather refusing to bend

 

Landscape’s beauty quickly fades

Stressing out from endless drought

People’s patience wearing thin

Nature sends timely bailout

 

Everyone prays for relief

Welcoming cold front arrives

Brief respite from summer’s heat

Dog days now humbly nosedive

 

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Medley of Verses (Haiku Series #177)

Under the Weather

Overcast morning

Gray covers forgotten sun—

Missing in action

Photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels.com

Lake’s Summer Harmony

Crystal clear waters

Canoe glides with rhythmic pace—

Perfect melody

Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

Stargazing’s New Reality

Galactic journey

Cosmic adventure comes true—

Man’s final frontier

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Morning’s Disruption

Photo by Raychel Sanner on Pexels.com

Cloudy, overcast sky

Hiding morning’s sunshine

Waiting with her reply

Nature’s latest headline

 

Forecast calling for rain

Arriving right on time

Watering farmers’ grain

Nature’s unchanging rhyme

 

Lightning crackling with fire

Sparking thunderous clouds

Hearing heavenly choir

Nature’s clamorous crowds

 

Peace returning to earth

Singing with calm voices

Anchoring at her berth

Nature’s sun rejoices

 

Disruption retreating

Clearing sky welcomed back

Sketching springtime’s greeting

Nature’s morning on track

  

Photo by Samuel Theo Manat Silitonga on Pexels.com

Pie Wins Out!

Photo by Josh Kobayashi on Pexels.com

A late autumn afternoon coaxes Fred and Milt, two of golfing’s diehards, to make one final trip to the golf course before storing their clubs for another season.  The forecast looks a bit ominous, but the hardy duo figure they can handle anything Mother Nature throws at them.

By the time they reach the first tee, a miserable windy, rainy cold front is quickly approaching.  Fred tells Milt, “Maybe the weather will clear.”

The twosome manages to finish the first hole with a pair of pars, and they both feel confident to play the second hole.  Meanwhile, the cold, wind, and rain have arrived. 

Moving along a bit more quickly, Fred and Milt finish the second hole with a pair of bogeys.  Obviously, their thoughts are more concerned with the weather than their golf score.

Hesitating just a bit, Milt asks Fred, “Should we continue to the next hole?”

With the wind beginning to roar, Fred shouts back, “Sure, let’s go for it.”

Milt hits a near-perfect tee shot, but he can barely see the ball in the driving rain.  Before Fred can tee up his ball, the rain is beginning to turn to snow. 

Undeterred, Fred slams into his tee shot with a towering, magnificent drive.  One problem! 

Tiny snowflakes are growing exponentially bigger as Fred’s ball takes off.  Quickly, the ball disappears into a cloud of white.  Milt calls out, “Looks like we can finish this hole next spring.  Let’s get out of here!”

Fred shoots back, “Sounds like a great plan.  Let’s head to my place and see if Marge has any coffee and pie left.”

Reaching the warm and dry kitchen, the haggard golfers are greeted by the aroma of Marge’s fresh baked Dutch apple pie, topped with her mother’s secret recipe of streusel.  As the golfing buddies sit down around the kitchen table with Marge and her sweet pie, Fred remarks, “We both took a ‘snowman’ on our third hole, but Margie’s pie wins out for sure!”

 

Spring’s Hiatus

Beautiful spring afternoon in central Ohio.

Delightful spring day

Soon approaching May

 

Open window’s view

Life’s freshness streams through

 

Everything alive

Nature’s best arrives

 

Birds fill nearby tree

Songs tweeting with glee

 

Virginia bluebells

Blooming, much to tell

 

Squirrels all about

Springtime’s early scout

 

Tree canopy swells

Leaves cast greenest spells

 

Geese gather in pairs

Nesting with love’s care

 

Smelling fresh-mown grass

Yards looking first-class

 

Sometimes nature blinks

At times, summer winks

 

Time to plant gardens

But, beg your pardon!

 

Overnight, snow calls

Spring’s waltz quickly stalls

 

Home furnace heats up

Winter stirs mix-up

 

Spring’s hiatus brings

Snowflakes’ final sting

Winter greets early spring morning.

Snowbound

white snowy environment with pine trees

Photo by Adam Lukac on Pexels.com

Bright afternoon blues began to darken

Winter’s cold blanket prepares to descend

Snowflakes twirling and dancing, at first glance

Ol’ Man Winter, with a message to send

 

Grandfather clock proclaims each passing hour

Intricate flakes, magnified in their size

Winter’s harsh intensity growls and howls

Like a hungry wolf, seeking his one prize

 

Outside, barren landscape feels overwhelmed

Pristine white now nature’s color tonight

Modest cabin remains toasty and warm

Ancient kitchen stove consumes wood all night

 

Staying indoors, cozy and safe

Snowy frenzy roars, no ending in sight

Minutes turn to hours, forwarding to days

Snowbound but home, never a hopeless plight

snowy brown house near tree

Photo by Evelyn Chong on Pexels.com

 

Winter’s Arctic Grip

man in brown parka jacket walking beside woman in maroon coat

Photo by Immortal shots on Pexels.com

Bone-chilling winds turn life upside down today

Delivering frigid, Arctic storms to every town

Thickening ice, spreading across the lake’s bay

People running straight into gusts, heads down

 

Wind chimes endlessly sing a winter-filled blast

Watching the thermometer effortlessly dive

Wondering, how long will this deep freeze last?

Somehow, everyone remains warm and thrives

 

The townsfolk cope, accepting winter’s greed

Facing long, harsh winters, most every year

Helping others to survive, when one’s in need

Winter’s severity never brings about fear

 

Finally one day, the wind changes its sound

Pitching warmer air, by way of a chinook

Lightening the load for everyone around

Smiles arrive, from every cranny and nook

 

Spring will soon send out her welcoming band

Replacing life’s burdens, with warmer wishes

Surviving winter’s struggles across the land

Winter to spring, life crosses familiar bridges

man standing on riverbank

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com