In Winter
In winter shovels hide up
chimneys, icicles cross
stitch, jumpers go swimming in
lagoons, ice skates go hunting for
gold bars, bonfires make
bed quilts and
pillows, the
dark drinks
eggnog, evergreens wear
earmuffs, fleece bathe in
hot cocoa, hearths sweat
milk, lighthouses wear
knee socks, logs
knit, moose
knit, vapour people
steal clothes pegs, vixens
predict major
disasters, kangaroos mimic
the sound of
the wind, water tanks get
lost in
abstract concepts.
It takes ten minutes
to dawn coat and gloves
scarves and boots and woolen caps
earmuffs and face masks
Pry open the frozen door
and step outside
wait thirty seconds for the dog to pee
and run back into the house
I wish they made tiny earmuffs.
They never stop
Dawn to dusk
Chirping, cheeping, cawing,
Chattering in the hedges.
I root for the cat.
Not often
But on occasion
Y’know….just
Get that one.
Hey I chirp now and then
Get a bit over eager
At the feeder
Peck at an over eager squirrel.
It is called a “BIRD” feeder bozo.
It’s getting’ colder
They’re all keyed up
Going south.
I may just stay here
Nest near the dryer vent
Hope they toss out a slice of bread
Whole wheat is ok
Maybe a fistful of seed.
I hope they leave soon
I may read a book
Quietly
Derek tried to satisfy his mother, so he gave his horse a drink.
Then he knit the horse some earmuffs, they were pretty soft and pink.
You need to give the horse a lift and a break said his brother.
He looks ridiculous carrying that horse, argued Derek’s mother.
So many have tried but she cannot hear them
She wears her blinders and her earmuffs as a badge
I understood right away, what she was about.
It is her way; I respect it too.
My way is the opposite way, but it is clearly my way.
So I allow her to have her way.
I watch the rest of the lunch bunch try to persuade her.
They want her to change her opinion and embrace their ways.
She catches my eye and we both smile.
Opposite in almost everything, except this.
When autumn leaves on tree branches disappear
And chilly winds spoil outdoor fun
The warmth of a fireplace beckons me to draw near
That’s winter to me.
When snowflakes blanket streets with a hush,
And snowplows, cars, shovels and rubber soles
Leave tracks and generate dirty slush
That’s winter to me.
When mercury drops bitter cold penetrates my bones
And I act to prevent colds, flu, and frozen water pipes,
My delight is in hot tea rather than ice cream cones
That’s winter to me.
When heavy coats, boots, gloves, scarves, hats,
Earmuffs, knits, mitts, sweaters, and wool gear
Make me feel like I’m hauling a bundle of baseball bats
That’s winter to me.
When smoke oozes from my nose and mouth
Crisp air makes lips chap, teeth rattle, fingertips numb,
Desire for warmer weather make me head south
That’s winter to me.
When days are short and nights too long
And Christmas celebrations have waxed and waned,
My prayers for spring to hurry up don’t seem wrong
That’s winter to me.
That woman is so magnetic beautiful,
as long as she keeps her coffin-mouth closed
Her vapor death got a mean kick ...
two hooves in the chest
A cemetery kiss that will make you fatally sick,
I’m talking donkey breath
Mr. Ed,
my neighbor down the street,
had an illegit child
Promiscuous with sailor lips,
she loved to bray wild
with a profane tongue
Her love was a tempting cold dish,
a pleasure-filled supper ... chilled endorphin enjoyed,
if you had a good pair of earmuffs
Had body beauty that was unsurpassed,
but any intimate contact
required you to wear a surgical mask
Possessing oxygen death that had an iron kick ...
two lung hooves buried in the chest
A gravedigger mouth spitting dirt on you quick,
cute cadaver talking donkey breath
Dread the proximity of drawing her air;
kick the bad habit ... muzzle any thoughts
of having an amorous affair
Donkey breath bed of misery is six-feet deep —
many sinus-free lovers are buried there
Snow falls silently and gently tonight,
covering his little red bike from sight,
and freezes the bucket of water he'd pour
over the dog and onto my clean floor.
A blanket of white covers the yellow race car
he rode down the hill out of sight and too far.
I scolded him then, my angel, my boy.
Today the snow hides his favorite toy.
And with each crystal flake my heart feels a chill,
remembering him there at the top of the hill.
I put on his earmuffs to protect tiny ears
being a mother in those tender years.
Now as my tears roll wet down my face,
I miss his sweet eyes and soft freckled face.
I miss his small hand in my hand I'd hold
remembering that day out in the cold.
Where has it gone,
the time and the years,
the smiles and the laughter,
the giggles and tears?
I wait by the phone now,
hoping he'll call
and say,
"Hi Mom, it's your favorite son, Paul."
By: Carole O'Terry Duet
Copyright: Feb. 13, 2008
"All Rights Reserved"
How Bad Can a Room Be
No wonder my wife has been bitching
Our room is directly above the kitchen
Pots and pans are rattling everywhere
Give us room like this would not dare.
Guess what? They have done it anyway
Bad things about cruise we have to say
Our room is beside elevator and next to
Terrifying trip will be going through.
Noise here, then there and everywhere
To us both, this surely doesn't seem fair
And a Three Star Mariner we have been
But now our nerves are wearing thin.
Maybe some earmuffs we better put on
Then all the noise will be over and done
Hope better things for us will be in store
But wearing earmuffs while on shore.
This is actually going to happen. We have been
assigned 1106 on Holland America's Oosterdam.
It is even next to the main office. We will be
having a parade in front of our room.
James Thomas Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
RiverSea Plantation
Bolivia, NC
The spider
whose web I've been
crashing at
is getting kind of
sick of me.
I guess it's about
time I strike
out on my own, and see
what I can
make of myself.
I stepped onto
the sidewalk,
and wouldn't you
know it, there
she was;
Adorned by fluffy green
earmuffs
and gaudily over-sized
plush boots,
she was a low-fat
dessert for the eyes,
a paradox for the soul's
deciphering probe to
jab against.
Perhaps she was
the very realization
of my pewter daydreams
molded by tepid steam
from makeshift
ovaries.
Dark room, pitch black,
Can’t see a damn thing as a matter of fact,
No walls to feel, where am I?
It’s frigid, chilling to the bone,
Nothing is visible at all,
My voice muted, my thoughts echo,
A scream, where did it come from,
It sounded like me…
Cement floor boxing in the forever night,
A moonlit path is all I ask for,
Clothes to cover my bare skin maybe,
Lend me anything to stop this horror film,
Earmuffs to block the sorrow filled voice,
So deafening it has melded me to this place,
Immobile, inactive, incapable of playing this game,
I never heard silent screaming that sounded so loud.
This room is so cold,
My goosebumps have goosebumps,
My earmuffs need earmuffs,
My coat has a jacket,
I mean COME ON!
This room is so cold,
I think some penguins just slid by,
I think that man is solic ice,
I think.. yeah that is a bonfire!
I mean COME ON!
This room is so cold,
Kids are having a snowball fight,
Is that man dancing or having a seizure?
Oh.. He's just shivering... Very Violently!!
Call the Police!
The Ambulance!
Is there a doctor in the House!!
Maybe I should help.
I would,
If this room weren't so cold...
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