It's Poetry Friday, and Laura Purdie Salas is hosting HERE at her blog. Be sure to stop by to see her two new adorable board books, which are coming very soon! Thanks for hosting, Laura!
First, another thank you for the special postcards from many of you. They certainly warmed my heart during our cold, cold days!
💖There are cards from Margaret Simon, Molly Hogan, Mary Lee Hahn, Mona Voelkel, Joyce Uglow, Jone Rush Macculloch, Robyn Hood Black, Gail Aldous, Tabatha Yeatts Lonske, Tricia Stohr-Hunt, Patricia Franz, and one new poem from Carol Varsalona.
Yes, winter has returned. It was 14 degrees below zero Tuesday night, rose to 21 the next day. I know that for Denver, it's not unusual, but I noticed places in the south were also very cold. I hope all of you made it through okay! My Texas son and family were fine, but they've told me some in their town have no heat, using only space heaters sometimes.
it's a slippery go
of cold and snow
a minuet
winter does not forget
cooldown at sundown
bring out the eiderdown
now a cup of tea
ah-h-h,
sweetened by me
glee!
Linda Baie ©
I also want to share an older book found at the used bookstore where I volunteer, a poem loved, and illustrated by Susan Jeffers, published in 1978, re-issued in 2001. It certainly seems fitting for this week's wintry days! Susan illustrated many others, winning a Caldecott Honor for Three Jovial Huntsmen, then another favorite of mine, a beautiful book of the story, Hansel and Gretel. She also illustrated Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, another gorgeous book and more! Susan passed away just a few years ago.
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Here's a link to seeing the book read so you can love "seeing" the poem through Susan's imagination, boldly shown in her art. "Her" woodsman stopped once to play in the snow and made a snow angel! I hope you enjoy it!
I love "cooldown at sundown." It's eiderdown weather here in Wisconsin, too,! Lucky for us, a warmup is in the forecast. Stay cozy!
ReplyDeleteBrrrrrrr! It's been really cold here too, so your post really resonates. Thanks for the Frost reading; I love Jeffers's art! Also liked the "cooldown at sundown" and the way your poem ended with a cup of tea "sweetened by me -- glee!" :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAnn and Jama! The weather people really goofed in the forecast last night. We had more than 6 inches of snow unlike their prediction of 1 to 2. But it's already melting fast, and just as I wrote, that's February! I'm glad to have found Susan Jeffers' lovely book to share! Her art is special!
ReplyDeleteI love the opening and unexpected first line--that word "go" is brilliant! Thanks, Linda! Enjoy the winter--I am too!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I was drinking tea as I read your poem! How is that for synchronicity? I loved the poem, and hope to improve my attitude about the winter, which is certainly not going anywhere at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura & Susan, being inside because of a storm made some nice time to write about our winter changes!
ReplyDeleteTrying to get my head around 14degrees below freezing, Linda. Unheard of down under. I did experience similar conditions living in NYC. I love the words-'bring out the eiderdown' in your poem. Now that's a statement.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan! It's just what is expected; sometimes that temp never happens & often, we'll have one cold wave. I just worry about those who are homeless & trying to find help.
DeleteLovely poem-book by Frost and snowy images by Susan Jeffers, fun big owl in there! And Fun poem by you Linda, thanks for all! 😊 ❄️
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