Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

January 15, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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52 Comments

Snow Day Wanted

One of the very best reasons for having children
Is to be reminded of the incomparable joys of a snow day.

— Susan Orlean

Cold, gray day with
Snow on the way.
Tiny flakes fall,
Hardly any at all.
Just a tease,
Tickling trees.
Children haunted:
Snow day wanted.

Notes: I read this to my son. He sadly shook his head and said: “I don’t think we’re going to get a snow day this year.” Poor guy, we’ve had almost no snow. No sledding, no snow shoeing and no snowmen! On a more prosaic note, I have just spent days updating all my contents pages, poetry, flash fiction, haiku and haibun. I’m still emotional thinking of the many outrageously wonderful compliments left, which make me blush to read the reviews on the contents pages. You might see yourself quoted there. 😉 Thank you all for reading and commenting. I know how busy you are, and I am deeply moved and appreciative!! You’ve restored my ego to almost life-sized just in time for attending a writer’s conference in NYC! I’ll be preparing for that in the next few weeks. Remember the magic! Warmly, Brenda

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

January 12, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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63 Comments

Snow Queen Haibun

I walk through my own personal cloud of crystalline breath. The nighttime is silent but for the thuds of snow falling from branches. The modern world disappears, and even the family van is a slumbering dragon. I pace the silent woods, twilight falling to full dark quickly.

ice chokes the pond
water reflects the dark sky
even my breath stills

I return to a long-ago winter. Lacy snowflakes fall all night. School is cancelled. Frost stars seal the window glass. I don three layers of clothes before pushing through drifts over my head. I forge new pathways. I enter an icy, secret world with caves, trolls, mountains and a snow queen.

hiding from monsters
across alien frozen worlds
in the quiet, is me

Note: This is a haibun, a Japanese form of writing, alternating prose and poetry, in this case, haiku. It has many rules. It should be present tense. The haiku should be without punctuation, except where a stop is indicated by a comma. Basho made this form famous.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

January 11, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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28 Comments

Frosted Pain

Snowflakes,
Frost snakes
Down the pane
Blurring the lane.
Cold rattles,
TV prattles,
Frozen thought:
What was sought
By crazy terrorists
Killing cartoonists?
The earth may still turn
But do what we learn?
Did they feel pain and rage?
Want a world stage?
But don’t praise god —
Your reasoning is flawed.
Revenge, blood, death,
Stop and take a breath.
Remember joy and love,
They come from above.
Embrace life and creation
And stop the devastation.

Note: Je suis Charlie. I am Charlie. I stand with free press and with peace through love of differences. I honor all religions, and my heart weeps for all the Jews who feel fear, all the Christians who feel under attack, all the muslims who don’t agree with the actions of terrorists, and all the other religions who feel sorrow. I feel sorrow at having to explain these events to children and immense sadness for the families of victims. No matter your beliefs, please help me speak out against violence and terror.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

January 3, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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48 Comments

Snow White Seeds

Winter Queen Snow-White,
Reigning over gardens past,
Spreading seeds near and far:
Tiny spin-drift wind-sailing
Sprites, tiny bits of last year,
Carried through cold to the next,
Come fill my garden with purple,
Amber and russet possibility.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

January 1, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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66 Comments

Found Magic

Sunset-glowing mums
Cast an earthy magic
Over a vanilla day.
My blue mug steams,
The bitter scent of green tea
Mingling with honey’s sweetness.
The calendar suggests newness.
January First: a new morning,
A new chance, a new start, a new dream.
Frozen grass crunches underfoot and
The sky is blue, clear and cold.
My breath steams like my mug:
Superheated for a magical brew,
Making all things seem new.
I resolve to find magic,
In any small detail, new or old,
Find magic and learn to take hold.

Note: Happy New Year to all my friends!! These blooms are thanks to Trader Joe’s, a magical place.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 31, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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33 Comments

Winter’s Golden Song

The years stack like a tower of books,
Each with its stories: lights shining,
Songs sung and music woven throughout:
“People writing songs that voices never shared,”
“Standing at the crossroads of the hill,”
“I see trees of green, red roses, too.”
“Two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard,”
“Looking for adventure in whatever comes our way,”
“I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold,”
“I’ll always remember you like a child.”
“Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea.”
“One pill makes you larger, and one makes you small.”
“Sunshine came softly through my window today,”
“Happiness runs.”

Happy and Prosperous New Year!! May you be showered with good things this coming year.

This is my 500th Post!! Woo-hoo!!

Warmly, Brenda

(Lyrics were swirling around in the gray nimbus clouds, thanks to Louis Armstrong, Steppenwolf, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Peter, Paul and Mary, Neil Young, Tracy Chapman, Jefferson Airplane, Donovan and Cindy Knoke, yes, Cindy!).

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 25, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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74 Comments

Christmas Wishes

May your dreams inspire you,
May you rarely feel blue,
And almost never angry red.
May all bad things remain unsaid,
May magic touch you and yours,
And love find you, opening new doors.

Note: Merry Christmas!! My family was lucky to see the Boston Ballet perform the Nutcracker a few days ago. The daughter of a friend was dancing the part of Mother Ginger’s child. We had such fun, we bought these two ornaments to commemorate such a special night. I wish you many blessings to you and yours. Warmly, Brenda

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 24, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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57 Comments

Gingerbread Joy

Snow lingers in spun-sugar drifts
On gingerbread houses: my spirits lift.
Such a colorful display of cake and candy
Makes the world seem sweet and dandy.
Even though holly bushes are snow-bare,
The winter season gives magic to share,
As children, near and far, laugh and play
Because Santa Claus can’t be far away!
Whether you feel reverence at a birth,
Or making kids happy brings you mirth,
May your days be full of surprises and joy,
Like a holly berry, saved for a fairy’s toy.

Merry Christmas!!

Note: This amazing gingerbread house was part of a display at Wilson Farms in Lexington, MA.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 20, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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44 Comments

Happy Solstice!

Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.

— Hans Christian Anderson

Bare
Trees yearn.
Setting sun
Whispers farewell.
Fall sleeps and winter stirs.
Winter Solstice parties
Shine fairy lights on all who dance
And sing.

Note: This poem is a concrete poem. The poem takes a shape related to its subject matter. The Christmas Tree tradition is a lovely way to celebrate the longest night, with lots of twinkling lights, inside and out. Historically, pagans and pre-Christians decorated at midwinter with evergreen boughs. Decorating a tree became a popular Christian tradition in Germany in the 1800’s. Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, later made tree decorating popular throughout the world.

The Winter Solstice in my neck of the woods is Sunday, December 21, 2014, 6:03 p.m. EST. North of the arctic, you get no sun at all, and south of the Antarctic Circle, they have the Midnight Sun, or 24 hours of sunlight. Either place is too cold for me. I’ll take my 4 p.m. sunset.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 16, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

Comments

59 Comments

Happy Hanukkah! (Right on Thyme)

May the light shine brightly on everyone, this dark December night, whether or not you celebrate Hanukkah. May you find time for things that bring you joy. May your dreams clarify and your wishes inch toward completion. May seasonal magic warm you and keep you safe. Be well, Brenda

Note: I have been working on braiding this thyme wreath, inspired by a post by Stacey of Down to Earth Digs. Although not finished, it has made my kitchen smell of summer. I plan to tie it with ribbon and hang it among my pottery. Thanks for the great idea, Stacey!!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 15, 2014

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

Comments

25 Comments

Frost Enchants

Thousands of frost stars
Twinkle on every fallen leaf.
The sky is an aching blue.
Balsam intermingles with spruce.
Diamond dust paves the autumn path
With glinting winter magic:
Sparkles in each sunlit step.
In shade, the wildwood is quiet.
Cold frost rimes the fallen log.
Breath is visible, and runners steam.
One ray of weak sun is enough to
Blind, dazzling the senses.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 12, 2014

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

Comments

31 Comments

Winter Wonderland

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream-
Lingering in the golden gleam-
Life, what is it but a dream?

— Lewis Carroll

Alice frosts pink fairy cakes
And carries them on amber platters
To the party in the tippy-top of yews.
Icing sparkles with snowflakes:
Tea party treats for mad hatters.
Alice pours tea and lets guests choose.
The Red Queen chases drakes.
Feathers fall amid snowy spatters.
The Cheshire Cat grins and chews.
White Rabbit calls “Land sakes!”
The March Hare nods and natters.
Not a few party guests snooze.

Note: In addition to getting the holidays in hand, I have a new project. I am now offering Fine Nature Art prints for sale on Society 6. Your purchase would help support Friendly Fairy Tales.

Have a magical weekend!

Warmly, Brenda