With puddles and ice
Lining sidewalks and streets,
I remember leaves.
First, the tease of buds.
Then the unfurling of
New leaves, palest green,
Sidewalks awash in bud casings.
Leaves as backdrop to the blooming of
Dogwoods, tulip magnolias, pink cherries,
White pear and apple,
Mauve plum and citrine cassia.
Continue reading
Pink
Twirl,
Calla curl,
Silky swirl.
Snow may hide
New England’s color,
But trucked-in treasure
Startles and entrances,
My heart dances —
A wild whirl.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes:
On the poem: This is a concrete or shape poem, meant in this case to take the shape of a calla lily.
On the weather: We’ve had one day of sunshine, with temperatures above freezing. Old Man Winter is not gone, but at least he’s growing sleepy. The Calla Lilies are from Trader Joe’s, where the floral section is a summer garden. Here is a picture better reflecting what it still looks like outdoors here:
On Poetry Friday: super-late this week, but life gets in the way at times. Thanks to Robyn Campbell, Kids Author and Poet, for hosting!
What slumbers on
Evergreen boughs —
Snow? Or is it more?
Are they angels slippers
Left as tokens of love?
Are they lacy linen
For mountain troll tea?
Or dryad eiderdowns?
Maybe royal cloaks swirled
Round highland princelings.
Or white fairy dream-dust,
Spun from dancing and mischief.
Perhaps each icy crystal is a
Frozen wish, yet to be granted.
The clouds have floated down
To kiss the children of earth,
Pausing to embrace entwined trees.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: More snow is due tonight. I hear Northern Maine has over eleven feet and counting. Makes our eight feet seem paltry. I hope you are warm and safe and having magical thoughts.
Fingertips of trees
Gusts of wind bear thistledown
Symphony in gray
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Happy Chinese New Year from me and from Marlyn at Kintal. It’s the Year of the Goat (or Sheep or Ram). The Goat is most liked by others, gentle and calm. I need Goats in my life. And I hope we all move together toward peace, forever in love, as Marlyn wishes here. Cheers, Brenda
One hundred inches* of snow has fallen!
That’s 8’4”. Taller than the world’s tallest person. Taller than Big Bird!
Shorter than some of our icicles!
We’re exhausted from beating icicles off our houses and from launching newly fallen snow to such towering heights. But we’re still smiling and planning the next party (going to one this afternoon in fact).
So woo-hoo to all of you!!
Warmly, Brenda
*Note: For the rest of the world, that’s just over two and a half meters — so much less impressive written that way.
On this bench, many times I have contemplated skinned knees, heard stories of woe or watched battles royal fought by three- and four-foot folk. Now the snow and cold drives us indoors, where children’s pains seem more internal as well.
Speak softly
Without haste,
For a word,
Ill-placed,
May strike a blow
To one hurt
On the inside.
This we can avert.
Reflect on any
Plans or actions.
Evil arises from
Creation of factions.
Harsh words divide,
Conquer and defeat.
Imagine being the other.
Use compassion. Repeat.
Whether we are talking about children, adults, religions, towns or countries, we all need to pause and reflect. To imagine life as the other.
I don’t like to moralize,
Or antagonize,
But in the face of evil
Speak I will.
Choose an action
From compassion.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: The combination of poetry, interspersed in prose, is called a haibun. This recent rash of school shootings, terrorism and racial and religious violence moved me to speak together with many others, in a movement started by Yvonne Spence. Let’s create a better world for our children, a magical, safe world where differences are celebrated rather than used to divide and ridicule.
Snowy trees up to their knees
In a snow-packed deep freeze.
Bend, creak, snap and sneeze,
Branches speak with the breeze.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: New England has been blessed with about 90 inches of snow in three weeks. Roads are narrow and icy. Snow banks along driveways and roads are mammoth. Visibility is nil. The White Wizard has sent a blizzard unlike any we have ever seen.
I have seen from my window
the fiesta of sunset in the distant mountain tops.
Sometimes a piece of sun
burned like a coin in my hand.
— Pablo Neruda, from Clenched Soul
Black-fingered trees
Yearn to touch the sky’s palette
Aglow with sunset
Icy winter dormancy
Kindled by sunset passion
This Tanka poem was inspired by Valentine’s Day, sunsets and Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Merely Day by Day. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Tyler at the Ancient Eavesdropper has my vote for Wizard of the Wood. I hope you enjoy his poem and moody photographic symphony in green. Warmly, Brenda
Wizard of the woods
with wild emerald beard
waving its wand &
growing magic.
Berry Cordial,
Cherry Pie,
Wild treats
Made under the sky.
Winter crimson,
Sudden and rare,
Makes me imagine,
Makes me stare.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: We are buried in snow in NE. An ocean of snow as far as the eye can see, walls of snow over our heads. And it’s snowing!! With more to storms predicted for later this week. It was all fun and games until the snowblower broke.
Snow creatures fly through the night,
Swat the tree and stick there tight.
The storm is wild; the creatures light.
Next day they remain, mossy and white.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: I hope to catch up on your blog posts tomorrow when my traveling is done. Hope you have a great week ahead, all my friends! Warmly, Brenda
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