We clearly need to take a big group walk on the farm where I live this time next year! I'm so dazzled by them that I forget most people have never gotten to see them.
the galaxy of alphas and omegas” - wow, I love those lines! It’s so cool how you took this whole list and made a calendar poem out of it. And tee hee, I also loved “first yard dump,” though It took me a moment to realize you meant snow. 😂 My mind had gone to “why does she shit in her yard when it gets cold, and how have I never heard this before?”
This is brilliant Rebekah! I love these amazing collection of first and lasts, and how they make an in incredible canvas of a full life. I love your deep connection and sensitivity to the natural world and the spirits running through all things! Another beautiful poem!
Lisa has helped me realize that some of my poems can be completely goofy and not so good in an artistic sense, but still okay to sneak out into the world.
I adore this poem and absolutely reject the "not so good" label that you seem to be attaching to it (though yes, absolutely, you're right that a poem doesn't need to be good by any particular standard to be worthy of a place in the world)! But oh my . . . "I resemble a rolling Teletubby / rather than a sleek pedaling pastor" might be my favorite combination of words I've read all day. So delicious!!
Oh and the image of blooms popping up like prairie dogs is so fresh and delightful. It feels like you really let yourself play with this poem, and the joy of play spills right onto me as the reader!
This just made my morning, Larry! I love the metamorphosis of the "sleek pedaling pastor" into a "rolling Teletubby" -- and all the other seasonal shifts you paint for us.
As usual I like your connection with the earth and the seasons. Even though I have a love of nature, love hiking, love my mountains, I do not get as inspired poetically by nature but more more philosophically and sometimes even spiritually even though I do not believe in spirits.
However, I did write something this morning after watching a YouTube video about the introduction and evolution of YAHWEY into the Jewish and Christian beliefs. So, I’ll share but I’ll not be offended if you delete it as not fitting with the theme of today:
I definitely won’t be deleting this, Jim! Off-prompt poems are totally welcome, too. And I think it’s really cool to learn about where people draw inspiration from. I don’t think I’ve written a poem inspired by a YouTube video yet!
Thank you, LeeAnn! I really love the word "shattered." My sister and I were talking about how there's no other word in the English language (that we could think of) that really feels like a perfect synonym for it.
This is my first exposure or awareness of frost flowers, Lisa. How lovely. I am not sure we have them here in northern New England, but that may just be my ignorance or unawareness showing. I love hearing your poems read. There is something comforting and uplifting in your voice. I am so grateful you are able to find beauty anywhere--mud, gook, frost, frozen ground, one time phenomenon...thank you for opening my eyes and mind again!
Thank you so much, Larry! I think frost flowers could happen anywhere that you have dead plants with tall, brittle stalks, very muddy ground, and then a sudden hard freeze in cloudy conditions. I don't think I would have been lucky enough to discover them if I didn't live on a farm, though. The first time I stumbled into them, I was completely baffled.
I've never heard of frost flowers! Your poem and the pictures are stunning.
We clearly need to take a big group walk on the farm where I live this time next year! I'm so dazzled by them that I forget most people have never gotten to see them.
I would love this so much.
Same here and what an introduction those photos make. Thank you.
I loved learning the science behind the frost flowers. And the poem itself is gorgeous!
.
Once I got started, I couldn't believe all the firsts and lasts that stand out to me over the course of a year (or nine months, to be precise).
.
First bluebells, first bluebird
First spring beauty and sparrow choir
Last driveway snow, first warbler flash
then garlic shoot, shooting star
balsamroot, swallow swoop
arnica, harlequin, bear cub, lupine.
Last woodstove fire, first firewood cut
First grosbeak, bitterroot, garden greens
trickling flute, ravensquawk, fawnwobble
and very hot day. First smoke
brings strawberries. First backpack
brings snap peas. First haul of raspberries
means last song of Swainson’s.
First wasp sting, last wood-pewee
First tomato, last warble
First eggplant and pepper
Last backpack and vireo.
First frost, first mountain snow
First woodstove fire, last high hike
First yard skiff, last parsley
First snowshoe, last bear
First yard dump, first ski, last prism light,
first Christmas tree,
then that little breath-catch beyond
the galaxy of alphas and omegas,
where I sit quietly and
complete the circle.
“then that little breath-catch beyond
the galaxy of alphas and omegas” - wow, I love those lines! It’s so cool how you took this whole list and made a calendar poem out of it. And tee hee, I also loved “first yard dump,” though It took me a moment to realize you meant snow. 😂 My mind had gone to “why does she shit in her yard when it gets cold, and how have I never heard this before?”
Ha! Well you know, when there are two people and only one bathroom, these things happen from time to time...
This is brilliant Rebekah! I love these amazing collection of first and lasts, and how they make an in incredible canvas of a full life. I love your deep connection and sensitivity to the natural world and the spirits running through all things! Another beautiful poem!
Lisa has helped me realize that some of my poems can be completely goofy and not so good in an artistic sense, but still okay to sneak out into the world.
Revolution
^
When the weight of my layers
Exceeds the weight of
my Cannondale carbon bike
or I resemble a rolling Teletubby
rather than a sleek pedaling pastor,
I know it is time to hang up the wheels
for the winter.
^
Until that day, when the wind shifts
first buds suddenly appear,
brave blooms peek out
like prairie dogs in western meadow,
sand and salt washed away by smiling rains,
I scramble through the closet
for springtime attire,
take my bike from the hooks
and roll away.
I adore this poem and absolutely reject the "not so good" label that you seem to be attaching to it (though yes, absolutely, you're right that a poem doesn't need to be good by any particular standard to be worthy of a place in the world)! But oh my . . . "I resemble a rolling Teletubby / rather than a sleek pedaling pastor" might be my favorite combination of words I've read all day. So delicious!!
Thank you Lisa! I especially chuckle because sleek has never been one of the top adjectives to describe me!
I don’t think it’s a word anyone would assign to me either!
Oh and the image of blooms popping up like prairie dogs is so fresh and delightful. It feels like you really let yourself play with this poem, and the joy of play spills right onto me as the reader!
Thank you Lisa! Your wide and heartfelt invitations always leave room for the playful.
This just made my morning, Larry! I love the metamorphosis of the "sleek pedaling pastor" into a "rolling Teletubby" -- and all the other seasonal shifts you paint for us.
As usual I like your connection with the earth and the seasons. Even though I have a love of nature, love hiking, love my mountains, I do not get as inspired poetically by nature but more more philosophically and sometimes even spiritually even though I do not believe in spirits.
However, I did write something this morning after watching a YouTube video about the introduction and evolution of YAHWEY into the Jewish and Christian beliefs. So, I’ll share but I’ll not be offended if you delete it as not fitting with the theme of today:
Mutations of the gods over time and geography
From fatherly god and husband, El
To YHWH, god of war, storms and vengeance
With no wife but one child?
Different space/times in our universe
Of curvature creating black holes
With pocket of great violence
But also peace that I travel through each.
I definitely won’t be deleting this, Jim! Off-prompt poems are totally welcome, too. And I think it’s really cool to learn about where people draw inspiration from. I don’t think I’ve written a poem inspired by a YouTube video yet!
Jim, This seems perfectly apt and a great poem!
Great observations Lisa!
High praise from such a talented photographer! Thank you.
I HAD NO IDEA THIS BEAUTY EXISTS IN THE WORLD!!!!
They give me the all caps feeling, too!
I love this. The ending is stunning!
Thank you, LeeAnn! I really love the word "shattered." My sister and I were talking about how there's no other word in the English language (that we could think of) that really feels like a perfect synonym for it.
I like the sound of the word shattered too. It fits.
Wow.... TIL, so evocatively, about frost flowers!
And TIL, that TIL stands for “today I learned.” (I had to Google it.) Thanks, Rebecca! 💜
TIL--I learn so much in these exchanges!
Thank you Lisa , beautiful images and words. The image of the flower, reminds me of childhood. Let me share this little poem I wrote for my kids.
Childhood’s hills
And, even in autumn
You’re the deepest blue
Of a clear sky
Starred with cirrus.
You’re the subtle theme
Of joy, like music
That sparkles in the morning,
Before the noisy
Clamour of the day
Climbs the uphill track
To the evening:
Purple. But evergreen
Is the colour
Of your undaunted dreams.
This is such a tender and beautiful poem, Stefano! The language is spare and evocative all at once - just lovely! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Lisa, I guess that is the magic of childhood still echoing in us…looking forward to sharing more of each other works!
Beautiful 🖤
Thank you, Dick!
Such a pleasure! :-)
This is lovely. I've never heard of or seen anything like that.
I hope you get lucky on some future cold, muddy day!
This is my first exposure or awareness of frost flowers, Lisa. How lovely. I am not sure we have them here in northern New England, but that may just be my ignorance or unawareness showing. I love hearing your poems read. There is something comforting and uplifting in your voice. I am so grateful you are able to find beauty anywhere--mud, gook, frost, frozen ground, one time phenomenon...thank you for opening my eyes and mind again!
Thank you so much, Larry! I think frost flowers could happen anywhere that you have dead plants with tall, brittle stalks, very muddy ground, and then a sudden hard freeze in cloudy conditions. I don't think I would have been lucky enough to discover them if I didn't live on a farm, though. The first time I stumbled into them, I was completely baffled.
Thanks, Billy! I'm glad if I can spread the frost flower love!
Thank you for your kind words, Mike! I hope you’re lucky enough to stumble into a few frost flowers some day.
Same!! This is amazing!