Monday Memories: Winter’s Final Walk

This poem is written in a traditional sonnet style with 14 lines, and each line contains 10 syllables.  I was fortunate to witness this park one day before the rising temperatures would begin transforming the park from its winter look.

Sycamore trees lose some of their bark over time. The whitest branches truly glisten in the winter sunlight.

Invitation from warmer winter day

Insisting on afternoon nature hike

Snowy Walnut Woods, waiting with sunshine

Feeling welcome, childlike emotions strike

 

Deep snow lining each trail, bright white border

Dressing in cozy layers, feeling warm

Park’s newest treasures, eager to explore

Thankful for winter’s freedom from snowstorms

 

Ancient sycamore tree branches glisten

Discovering cross-country skiers’ trail

Beaver dam holds back frozen Big Run creek

Precious winter moments bless, without fail

 

Looming big thaw will erase winter’s scene

Memories filling life’s unending screen

 

A wintertime beaver dam backs up the frozen Big Run. It might not survive the spring runoff.

Originally published March, 2021.

Morning’s Sustenance

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Rising early

New day shares greeting

Before sun awakens

Nightly darkness retreating

 

Embracing light

Heart warmed by sunrise

Morning’s sustenance breathes

Life receives its grateful prize

 

Looking outside

Harmony’s landscape

Snowfall’s peaceful rhythm

Fresh coffee’s dreams of escape

 

Finding goodness

Beautiful day sings

Oatmeal’s filling spirit

Welcome nutrition it brings

 

Blessing this day

Outlook fills with pride

Opportunity’s charm

Joy saddles its daily ride

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Monday Memories: Bewitching Storm

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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

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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.

Monday Memories: Haunting Storm

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Pleasant, mid-winter day

Warm winds decide to stay

 

Touch of spring thaws the air

Ideal life, not a care

 

Hidden, in frigid North

Cold destined to call forth

 

Prairie living unaware

Grass uncovered, and bare

 

Few cowboys work the range

Life will soon see big change

 

Barren land, overgrazed

Cattle wander, unfazed

 

Calmness warns of trouble

Winter’s wrath comes double

 

Arctic-fed winds stir up

Wet snow creates pileup

 

Haunting storm now arrives

Few cattle will survive

 

Blizzard smothers this land

Conditions, out of hand

 

Cowboys wait out fierce storm

Snow and cold, nasty swarm

 

Waiting, hours become days

Prairie, now winter’s maze

 

Cattle’s cries go unheard

Snow-blinded, vision blurred

 

Storm’s cruel hand, plays its cards

Life stops, prairie graveyards 

 

Montana artist Charles M. Russell captures the shattered blow of winter’s fury in “Waiting for a Chinook” (“Last of Five Thousand”) as depicted in this watercolor. (Courtesy of Pinterest)

This poem attempts to capture the daunting winter of 1886-1887 on the prairies in the Montana Territory when the Open Range’s cattle industry collapsed from its near annihilation.  Russell’s artwork says even more than words can describe.

Originally published January, 2021.

Lighter Moments (Haiku Series #356)

Winter Wishes

Landscape’s barren ground

Tracking plenty of snowflakes—

Frosty’s welcome grin

Photo by Marri Shyam on Pexels.com

Unpredictable Compass

Night sky’s Polaris

Navigating by North Star—

Blizzard changes course

Photo by Eva Bronzini on Pexels.com

Tomorrow’s Weather

Forecast, right or wrong?

Let’s try flipping someone’s coin—

All pockets empty

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Monday Memories: Winter’s Repose

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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

 

Photo by Matthias Cooper on Pexels.com

Originally published January, 2021.

Beneath Warmth’s Joy

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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

 

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Transitions (Haiku Series #353)

Repurposed

Raking piles of leaves

Trees now empty of color—

Autumn’s leftovers

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Unhurried

Morning’s icy breath

Winter playing hide ‘n seek—

Goodbye autumn friend

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Treasured

Lonely tree branches

Always full of memories—

Final leaf falling

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Winter’s Steady Quest

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Morning sky awakens

Peace fills nature’s outlook

Landscape’s fresh, white blanket

Winter’s cozy look

 

Horizon full of gray

Light tries to brighten

Sun waits for tomorrow

Winter’s grip tightens

 

Hope’s disappearing breath

Tranquility’s free-fall

Each snowflake multiplies

Winter’s sudden squall

 

Wind churns with whitest sky

Brief storm now taking rest

Clouds open with sunlight

Winter’s steady quest

 

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Winter’s Breath (Haiku Series #310)

Encouraging

Poised with poet’s pen

Words painting winter’s landscape—

Creator-inspired

Photo by Aliaksei Semirski on Pexels.com

Reflecting

Sunset now descends

Night sky waiting to unfold—

Winter’s voice seeks rest

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.com

Unbounding

Pine trees covered white

Wilderness in slumber’s peace—

Winter’s dreams alive

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