John Watt Poet Quatrain

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A Piece of Winter

Take away the frost of winter,
rid the land of biting snow,
then who would praise the warmth of August,
how could April rivers flow?

Hush the deafening crash of thunder,
dull the flash of lightning's thorn,
and who would feel the calm of silence,
when the still of dawn is born?

Sow your seeds of evergreens
so that spring’s soil year-round conceives,
then who could reap the multi-colored
glory of October leaves?

Look beyond this thick façade,
you'll find four seasons in my soul,
but take away a piece of winter
and you'll leave me cut, unwhole.



written 4 Feb 1985

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JC Brul August 2, 2023 at 8:34 AM This is so hypnotic. The imagery you have woven here leads me to a depth and height my heart loves to explore. Breathtakingly beautiful!! John Watt August 2, 2023 at 1:43 PM J, thank you for your generous and lovely comment. My mother is the one who first encouraged my poetry and this was her favorite of all my poems. I can't help but think of her when I read it. Hope you have a wonderful day ~ John

Line Gauthier January 10, 2021 at 6:10 PM Delightful, John ~

Vijay Galia October 19, 2020 at 5:36 AM Beautifully presented.

Elaine George May 11, 2020 at 6:36 PM A masterpiece! Thank you for sharing. Elaine John Watt May 11, 2020 at 7:20 PM Thank you, poetess. That means so much to me!

Brian Johnston April 17, 2020 at 10:00 PM Look beyond the first three stanzas Dance with seasons of my soul, But remove one flake from Winter, Wound me to the quick, unwhole! A lovely poem John! If only all our lines could live up to our best! Thanks for enriching the PoetrySoup broth. Live long and prosper! John Watt April 18, 2020 at 12:40 PM Thank you Brian, for your poetic reply. I do hope to live long and prosper, but both are in the Lord's hands!

Andrea Dietrich April 8, 2020 at 4:09 PM Finally, the last stanza, which for me was the most personal part and twinged with melancholy, was read to perfection! So how many more will you record!!! John Watt April 18, 2020 at 12:39 PM I have recorded one more, "I Want, But Don't Need". I think I may stop at just the two! Thanks for your kind words.

Andrea Dietrich April 8, 2020 at 4:07 PM and here I am AGAIN, back to hear the recording this time. Your voice is very pleasant, just as I expected it to be, John. I noticed that you did something similar to my own reading of the September poem. You let your first line read almost as a question by the intonation you used! I think we tend to do that when we are being more serious. I could tell you were reading this carefully and you did fantastic. I loved the emphasis on Glory! "Calm of silence" was read with the very feeling of that! John Watt April 18, 2020 at 12:38 PM Thank you for your detailed review of the audio file... it means a lot to me that you find my voice pleasant. I hear it and wonder how anybody could stand to listen to it, but I understand that is a common reaction to hearing one's recorded voice. Very grateful for the affirmation.

Andrea Dietrich April 7, 2020 at 8:44 PM oh yes, how would I ever forget this one, John. I can't wait to hear you read it! In fact, I see Greg faved it. Why the heck did I never fave it. There! Done! John Watt April 18, 2020 at 12:36 PM Thanks for the fave, my poetess friend. It means more to me than you could know!

Gregory Richard Barden March 18, 2020 at 7:27 PM This is wonderfully charming, John, and a straightforward rhyme with metre and rhythm, (which will always be my favorite form - a dying breed, I fear) ... I've written a few about the essential elements of darkness/negativity - the "balance" of the Universe - and this is an excellent example of those things that give our beloved things their value. Nicely done, my friend - into my faves! (You were here before I was, ha!) John Watt March 18, 2020 at 7:35 PM Sir Bard, I'm deeply moved by your fave, because I know you are spare with giving that honor. I would love to know the titles of yours that you reference concerning the yin/yang tension. I love that you get this poem, and that your comments to me are so generous. Blessings in these challenging times, my friend... it's almost spring! ~ John

Susan Ashley March 15, 2020 at 7:43 PM Indeed, John! Your poem is a thoughtful and poetic wonderland of duality. I love the contrasts drawn, for without one you can't truly appreciate, know or embrace the other. Beautiful imagery captivates my imagination; 'lightning's thorn', Wow! 'the four seasons in my soul' - what an exquisite way of expressing one's stages of life, each as special and essential as the other. Your last two lines resonate strongly in a personal way as Winter comes full circle from Spring. Impactful, as always! Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan John Watt March 15, 2020 at 9:47 PM Susan, I appreciate your astute eye and generous words. There is a lot of dualism going on here, and yin/yang tension. I am encouraged by your going back to my earliest submissions. This was my mother's favorite poem of mine, and always reminds me of her, RIP. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and replies, Susan. Fondly ~ John

Line Gauthier March 12, 2020 at 10:36 PM Awesome rhythm, John. This is a beauty. John Watt March 12, 2020 at 11:41 PM Thank you, Line. I'm glad you liked the rhythm.

Andrea Dietrich January 23, 2020 at 11:26 AM this is very creative AND shows that you are able to think deeply to comprehend the importance of "opposition in all things" Being raised in my church, I learned that was a huge part of their theology, the idea of opposition and its necessity. WELL DONE! John Watt January 23, 2020 at 1:35 PM Thank you for going back in time and pulling up one of my oldies! I don't know what the dualism is called in the Judeo-Christian tradition, but the ancient Chinese called it Yin and Yang. Seemingly contradictory forces not only complement one another but are inextricably linked.

Kim Merryman July 14, 2016 at 9:34 PM A wonderful write, John! I love winter. It's such a relief from summer heat, but then I live in Florida so our winter doesn't equate to other parts of the country. Congrats on your placement in the contest!

Sandra Haight July 13, 2016 at 6:07 PM Such a lovely poem with excellent rhythm, John. Yes, your words remind me of a poem I wrote that ended..."Only in imbalances we feel, the balance that keeps life on even keel." We cannot appreciate the warmth of summer unless we know the cold harshness of winter. Congrats on your nice win. Sandra John Watt July 17, 2016 at 7:36 PM Sandra, Thank you so much for the kind words. I would very much like to read your poem with the lines, "Only in imbalances we feel, the balance that keeps life on even keel." Is it on Poetry Soup? If not, could you SoupMail it to me? Thank you ever so much ~ John