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Thursday, January 9, 2020

Poetry Friday - It's January!

Poetry Friday today is hosted by Sally Murphy, a poet friend from across the sea, Australia! Sally shares one way to help the needs of her country because of the fires. It goes by the hashtag #authorsforfireys and ends Friday evening.  Our prayers are with her homeland and the terrible devastation by the fires. 
           And you can take a peek at Sally's new verse novel here! Thanks for hosting, Sally!
        
           Here is a link to a NY Times article that offers other ideas for giving to help those affected by these fires: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/world/australia/help-australia-fires.html

            Thanks to Jone MacCulloch who created the annual postcard exchange, I've been receiving wonderful Happy New Year postcards. Thanks to all. I'll share them next week!

            Here's a poem for the 'after'. A new year is a refresh, a beginning, a welcome for 'new', but also a 'remembering' what came before, to celebrate, to rue. January slip-slides into our lives whether we want it or not, and we begin!



-->
January Takeover

Day follows day 
frozen time 
choosing how to 
make a rhyme

reading stories 
baking bread
freeing to-do lists
from my head
  
hours now for 
nature walks
sketching writing
friendly talks
  
sparkles packed 
and put away 
quiet memories
that stay

Linda Baie ©


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40 comments:

  1. RuthJanuary 10, 2020 at 4:15 AM

    I love your "after" poem!

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  2. TabathaJanuary 10, 2020 at 5:45 AM

    I like the way your January sounds :-) Some lines I especially like are "freeing to-do lists," "friendly talks" and "sparkles packed."

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    1. Linda BJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:50 AM

      Thanks, Tabatha, it is all about slowing down, at least for a while!

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  3. Jane Heitman HealyJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:14 AM

    That is lovely, and really takes the edge off the cold! Love "sparkles packed," though January has its own frosty sparkles. Happy new year, Linda!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:51 AM

      Happy New Year to you, Jane. Time to enjoy some wintery things, right?

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  4. JoAnn Early MackenJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:50 AM

    January sounds relaxing and rejuvenating! Enjoy!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:51 AM

      Thanks, JoAnn! Indeed I will enjoy this month!

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  5. Karen EastlundJanuary 10, 2020 at 9:45 AM

    Beautiful poem for the quiet days of winter, Linda. Thank you! I still have some putting away to do, but when I'm done I will think on this some more... happy Friday to you...

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    1. Linda BJanuary 10, 2020 at 10:18 AM

      Thanks, Karen. I have "most" away, but the youngest granddaughter kept out some of the Christmas animals to play with for a little bit more.

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  6. Linda MitchellJanuary 10, 2020 at 4:17 PM

    Ohhhh, so lovely. I love the idea of walks...especially with the tiny bit more light we have these days. And, I am enjoying the refresh feeling. I'm really trying to remember my olw and be open to the ideas that need to find their way onto my computer. Happy New Year to you!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 10, 2020 at 5:10 PM

      Yes, 'refresh' is the word for a new year, Linda. Happy New Year back! I just received your postcard today & it's wonderful! Thank you!

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  7. michelle koganJanuary 10, 2020 at 11:42 PM

    Can I jump into your poem, and especially this line,
    "freeing to-do lists
    from my head"
    that would leave more time for wonderful things like,
    "hours now for
    nature walks
    sketching writing
    friendly talks"
    Love it all, thanks Linda! :)

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 10:23 AM

      You're welcome, Michelle. I love what you did with my words! All true!

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  8. TaraJanuary 11, 2020 at 4:21 AM

    That's the perfect January poem, Linda - love the very idea of "quiet memories that stay."

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 10:17 AM

      Thanks, Tara. It's true, isn't it? We all remember those lovely holiday hours!

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  9. Randomly ReadingJanuary 11, 2020 at 5:55 AM

    This may be the very best January poem I've ever read and it's definitely going into my collection of poems I love. Thank you for sharing it, Linda.

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 10:18 AM

      Oh, thank you, Alex. I appreciate your kind words. This certainly is January to me!

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  10. Margaret SimonJanuary 11, 2020 at 6:05 AM

    Thank you for the New Year card and for this poem. I do like being back on a schedule and have enjoyed writing with my students this week. The nature walks will come later.

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 10:19 AM

      You're welcome, Margaret! It's cold today, but sunshiny so I know I'll be out sometime!

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  11. RamonaJanuary 11, 2020 at 9:42 AM

    "Sparkles packed," always a hard task for me, but I'll hold onto the "quiet memories that stay." Still have my snowmen and snowwomen collection out and the Christmas tins above the kitchen cabinets and Christmas mugs in the cabinet. I'm so reluctant to let go of this special season. Maybe it's time for "January Takeover" at my house. I love how you've mentioned so many things that are perfect for this time of year. Happy January, Linda!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 10:20 AM

      And Happy January to you, Ramona. I collect small trees so have left some of them out. Everything else is gone, now planning some different arrangements in my home. Thank you!

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  12. Whispers from the RidgeJanuary 11, 2020 at 11:56 AM

    Great form for your poem! It makes me a little sad to think back to the cheerful holiday season, but January has a way of moving us forward with lots of time on our hands for nature walks and writing. Thanks for reassuring me of this, Linda!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 2:44 PM

      I hadn't thought of January helping us begin again, Kiesha, but you're right, it does! Yes, sad is a part of the holidays being over, I agree. Thanks for coming by!

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  13. Kimberly HutmacherJanuary 11, 2020 at 12:23 PM

    Such a lovely poem. Happy New Year, Linda!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 11, 2020 at 2:45 PM

      Thanks, Kimberly, and wishes back to you, too!

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  14. Sally MurphyJanuary 11, 2020 at 7:27 PM

    Thanks for your beautiful, gentle poem, Linda, and for being so sharing of the love and practicalities for the bushfire efforts. It means a lot.

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    1. Linda BJanuary 12, 2020 at 6:47 AM

      You are welcome, Sally. Wishing that something good will happen to help with the fires very soon!

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  15. Catherine FlynnJanuary 12, 2020 at 4:23 AM

    Your January days sound so inviting, Linda! We haven't had a full-size tree in many years, and I am enjoying it so much I don't want to take it down. Next week, I'll pack the sparkles away and hand on to the "quiet memories/that stay." Thank you for sharing this lovely poem!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 12, 2020 at 9:55 AM

      I just have a rather small artificial tree these past years, Catherine, but it fits the place I have in my living room & feels fine. You've been through so much renovating that I'm sure this Christmas was a special one. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem, and wishing you a wonderfully Happy New Year!

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  16. Heidi MordhorstJanuary 12, 2020 at 12:10 PM

    I'm so happy that the retired life suits you, Linda--because that is one very retired January poem! Love that last stanza. Enjoy!

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    1. Linda BJanuary 12, 2020 at 12:45 PM

      Well, I didn't include the hours I'm working at and for the bookstore, my "retired" job-ha! Yes, I'm glad to have some extra hours, Heidi.

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  17. laurasalasJanuary 12, 2020 at 2:41 PM

    Beautiful, Linda--I especially love that last stanza. So comforting:>)

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  18. Becky HerzogJanuary 12, 2020 at 5:08 PM

    January is always a bit of a sigh of relief for me as things get back to their normal routine. Love your poem.

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    1. Linda BJanuary 12, 2020 at 7:56 PM

      Thanks, Rebecca. Though I'm sad to say goodbye to my out-of-town family, I do like getting 'back', too.

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  19. KayJanuary 12, 2020 at 5:12 PM

    Lovely poem, Linda. I like the peaceful reflection that eases us into the new year.

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    1. Linda BJanuary 12, 2020 at 7:56 PM

      Thank you, Kay. January seems busy, too, but not as busy as December!

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  20. Carol VarsalonaJanuary 12, 2020 at 9:57 PM

    Linda, I am home on Long Island after a festive weekend of Baby Aurora celebrations! May I savor some quiet moments as you say, "freeing to-do lists" and taking nature walks? We did a take a magnificent nature walk today with Baby Aurora in her stroller. The weather was 65 so it was one of those unbelievable springlike days. Going to bed, remembering all the delightful memories of a grand birth. We even had a BIRTHday party and my sister who have back to back birthdays. I hope you get a beautiful day of warm breezes as January takes over with a warming trend. My husband sees the shifts of climate change happening. (YES, I want him to realize that it is a real threat.)

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    1. Linda BJanuary 13, 2020 at 7:50 AM

      I've heard about your warm days from several people. We are in the forties, but really need some moisture! Climate changes are happening everywhere! I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time celebrating Baby Aurora! Congratulations again!

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