SJT. Wintering

Hello Sojourners,

I admit that I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the reading I usually do. This season is busy -- but happily so with friends and family face to face. I have been remembering to be grateful for being able to physically be with people. Remember four years ago? We were about to plunge into isolation and didn't even know it yet.

That isolation during Covid's worst days was a kind of cruel wintering. I'm so glad to be on this side of it.

This poem was tapping at my brain on a drive to work this week. I love it when that happens. I hope to catch up with all your blogs as soon as I can...maybe even Christmas Day when there will be delicious time of quiet as my adult children sleep in and the cats and I are up early.

I wish you good wintering.

Wintering

If all the poems were of summer

there would be

no wintering blankets 

of hush

piled high this season.

No red cardinal hearts

beating against snow

giving grief a rest

in spaces of joy.

If all the poems were of summer there would be  no rush of shivery piney boughs or cups of cocoa to sip  after coming in from the cold.

If all the poems were of summer you would have less reason to return, from a big busy world home safe and sound  as smoke from our chimney climbs as high and as blue as December stars. 

Linda Mitchell--draft 12/24

Der Winter. [No Date Recorded on Shelflist Card] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2003680992/>.

A Whole World as Nourishment

Welcome December Poets,

I'm a bit stunned that we are here closing out 2024.  I feel like we should have more time. But, here we are with jingle bells ringing in the background.

Molly brought this challenge to the Inkling's writing desks this month:

    Begin with a specific sensory experience (of taste, sight, smell, sound or touch),and see where that leads you." This part of a prompt from James Crews's new book, "Unlocking the Heart."

I dragged my feet a bit on this challenge (I feel like there should be more time). And, I've been playing around with the 4 x 4 form. So, this recent draft became my poem. It's not quite a 4 x4 as there is no traveling line of repetition. But, I like this poem. It makes me happy.

Globe from my Dad 2023

December 

Delivered box Open it up A light-up globe from my father

Round blues and golds A surprise gift I plug it in Flip on the switch 

All the nations All the oceans All these places My kitchen glows

He wanted to give me some light and a whole world as nourishment

Linda Mitchell Dec. 24

I am hosting Poetry Friday next week. I'll have a post and link-up ready to roll Thursday evening for early birds like me and welcome all poets through the following week. This week, thanks goes to Carol at The Apples in my Orchard for rounding up all our poems in her orchard.

Stay well this week--especially as you prepare for the holidays.

Inkling responses to Molly's challenge can be seen at these blogs:

Mary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of Reading

Catherine Flynn @ Reading to the Core

Molly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone

Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche
Heidi Mordhorst @ my juicy little universe