FIRST FRIDAY POETRY JANUARY 2024

 Last January, I joined Beverly A Baird & Linda Schueler in a "year long poetry practice – on the first Friday of each Month," when they, and anyone else who joined, wrote a poem based on the theme of the month and a photo taken relating to that theme.

I've decided to join them again this year, even though there is no theme. I was given a Mary Oliver collection for Christmas and this first poem was inspired by her. 

This photograph is mine. Perhaps next month I will convince my partner and friend to join in with their artwork. 



inspired by The Pond by Mary Oliver

january of another winter
and once again,
i long for snow

fog locks us into
another overcast sky

one
dreary
day
drags on
after
another

meanwhile
weeds flourish
in the still green grass

snap dragons
bloom bright pink
against the south facing
wall of the house

their cheerful stamina
warns:
too warm! too warm!
foretelling of
what’s to come

parched spring seedlings
early forest fires
smoke filled summer days
and barren autumn baskets

It's been a very mild winter here so far. The last time we had snap dragons blooming in January, we ended up with a heat dome in June that killed hundreds of people here in BC. We desperately need a snow pack so that there will be water come summer. 

2 comments:

  1. What a strong poem, one that describes so well this dirth of snow and winter we are experiencing, even here in southern Ontario. So glad you are joining in again Cheriee.

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  2. An excellent lament! The snapdragons blooming is very concerning.Thanks for joining in again this year.

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