Poetry Friday January 19, 2024
Breaking the Snow Drought
After two long years, we finally got some snow! We usually get snow every year, but the last two years we’ve gotten no measurable snow. On Monday, we got several inches–I think 4-5 though I forgot to measure.
I only took a few pictures. It turns out that I no longer own snow boots. I think my ones from college (!!!) finally bit the dust after 27 years, and I forgot to replace them during our two year snow drought. I put on some hiking shoes and they were way too short to deal with the snow we had. Wet feet! If I order new boots, will that jinx us and grant us no more snow?
Haiku of the Week
new year sunrise
watercolored sky reflects
year gone year ahead
Photo Taken: January 1, 2024 at Burke Lake Park
Haiku Written: January 5, 2024
Poem as Picture Book
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrated by Simone Shin
Beach Lane 2020
This poem as a picture book is 98 words. It’s a rhyming poem about a community garden.
Poetry Connections
- Pauses using page turns and punctuation.
- Rhyming
- Repetition
- Alliteration
- Rhythm
Links
Grow (How did I grow/stretch myself this week?)
I’m working on a project revision that is requiring another iteration. It’s a project I’ve worked for different age groups in different styles. I hope this next iteration will be the right one!
32 Comments
Elisabeth
Your photo and poem both capture that feeling of looking back and looking forward as we stand at the beginning of a new year. Thanks for sharing them today!
Good luck with the revision! It’s always rewarding when you finally find the right format and voice for a project.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Fingers crossed I’ve finally hit on the right format!
Linda
More snow in our area today. I think we are up to another four inches already. After so long without snow, I took time this morning to sit by the window and just watch it come down. So peaceful! Your photo and poem are both gorgeous. Good luck with your revision!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It’s been so lovely to finally have some real snow here too! It bookended our week!
jan/BOOKSEEDSTUDIO
Exquisite image of dawn paired with haku happiness, wonderful Marcie.
Keep those tootsies, dry the rest of this climate-crisis winter.
The garden poem book from Liz looks read-in-school-worthy & gardenshop eligible [ beyond all the public libraries, bests, lists, etc.] It reminds me of the garden scenes from the same poet-author’s heart-melt poem book ALL THE WORLD illustrated by Marla Frazee, which makes a great young family gift, as I’m sure this one will. TY!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love ALL THE WORLD (and Marla’s newest IN EVERY LIFE).
Rose Cappelli
Love the photo, Marcie. It captures “year gone year ahead” beautifully.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! It was worth getting up early for.
Mary Lee
I love the idea of “year gone year ahead!”
My favorite snowboots are a pair of modernday overshoes that have velcro instead of those blasted metal buckles that would freeze fingers to the bone!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Ooh nice! You probably have more chances to wear them where you are too.
Linda Baie
Love that ‘watercolored’ sky, Marcie. That is funny about the boots. I guess having no snow for so long made them out of mind!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yep! Out of use, out of mind. I did buy some this week–just in time for a our second snow.
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Marcie, stunning photos! The colors in your watercolor sky are breathtaking. I am happy that snow found its way back to you this year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Me too! The last time we had a snow was in winter 2021 and we were still teaching virtually, so there was no actual snow day from school.
Carmela Martino
You poem and photo are a perfect pairing, Marcie. I love the last line. I’m always awed by how you express so much in so few words.
Good luck with the revision!
RE: boots–I say, Have Faith! There will be more snow. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Hooray! I bought some Thursday and snowed again on Friday! 🙂
Denise Krebs
Marcie, it sounds like a snow to enjoy. I hope you get more too, with or without boots. Your how you grew this weeks sounds like a challenge. I pray your perseverence is rewarded with the right iteration this time.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! Perseverance is the key in this industry, I think.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Gorgeous photo, Marcie. I’m so glad you got snow to set those red berries!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Me too!!!
Buffy Silverman
Anything that Liz Garton Scanlon writes is worth studying! Watercolored sky is a perfect description of your beautiful photo. And yes–get some boots and tromp!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
100% agree about Liz! And I did purchase some snow boots and already got to use them!
Karin Fisher-Golton
What a gorgeous photo. And your haiku with the word “reflects” resonates with the intangible feeling of being on the brink of an old year and a new one.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, Where oh where did my comment go? Cyberspace??? When I opened your blog post I was mesmerized by the beauty of your crisp photo and laughed that you did not have snow boots. Coming from Long Island to VA I made sure some of my boots traveled with me. This week has been a true snow pleasure. I’m glad that you caught that beautiful sky and the reflection.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, I mean, I did have snow boots. But in one of my pandemic clean outs, I’m pretty sure I got rid of the decades old snow boots and just forgot to replace them. 🙂 I was able to get snow boots before Friday’s snow. Then I was able to use them for a snow walk!
Janice Scully
I always look forward to your photos and haiku and this weeks didn’t disappoint. What a sunrise! And like the god Janus, this sunrise looks to the past and ahead. Thanks you, Marcie. And good luck with your manuscript. I know it’s hard work.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Janice!
Robyn Hood Black
Glad to hear you went ahead and bought the boots, Marcie, so we can enjoy more of your creative adventures no matter the season! Thanks for sharing – lovely!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Robyn!
Jane @ Raincity Librarian
We get snow usually once or twice a year, and it’s such a big event, the city usually shuts down because we all go into a tizzy, hahahaha!!!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yeah, the DC area doesn’t handle snow very well. Our first year here we got a LOT of snow and it shut down schools for a week. I wasn’t prepared to be stuck at home quite that long.