Dear December
Soft snow swirls down as cold breeze blows
A snow white crown covers the earth.
Life is in hibernating throes
Let's stay inside near the warm hearth.
Icicles hang from eaves of roof.
Shiny snow sparkling as silver.
Ice flakes float on close- by river.
Heavy window curtains: Wind-proof.
Snow fall occurs in winter - rain
In slippery snow sledges slide.
Santa Claus glad on reindeer -ride.
Snow caps on sky -kissing mountain.
Winter entered on frosty path.
Cold climate in snowy effort.
Chilled weather claimed woolen comfort.
Our amour seeking little warmth.
04/27/23
Stop to wish them a Happy Xmas,
to all those who do not have a home,
warmth of hearth, family love we have,
do give them a small share of that part.
They seek not your expensive boxed gifts,
neither the glitter of Xmas tree,
out in the open their feet are cold,
give them cheer and fire of your heart.
Xmas indeed is family time,
for hugs and kisses, good food and wine,
Robins, Carols and sledges on snow,
but think of them when you sit to dine.
when bright stars light up the winter sky,
and Santa’s reindeers are flying high,
Some children wait for dad’s to be home,
Show you care, so they don’t feel alone.
Some have walked miles away from death,
to seek our protection, safety, love.
fierce war has destroyed all that they owned,
they are part of larger family.
Stop to wish them a Merry Xmas,
Share what you can, whenever you can,
our true value lies in what we give,
our love can change how others may live!
Free verse with some unintended rhyme
9 syllables each line.
Thinking of the homeless, and those who will never come home.
The human troll
He was the tallest man I have ever seen, bigger than the rest
he had one big eye, a lantern, seeing wide and a smaller eye
seeing inwards; he retired as an airline pilot at 75.
He preferred to fly at night alone under the stars listening
to the symphony of the galaxy.
His motto was discretion, not for him to write a book hanging
out anyone, like when he flew explorers, sledges and dogs
to the Nord pole and said nothing when the fearless men
took the glory and got their names in the newspaper.
When he finally retired, there was not a word of his exploit
no king’s medal, no flags were waved.
He had his memory like when he landed on the Savannah
when the elephants played the trumpets to his honour and
The lions wagged their tales.
No one knew where he came from; he never told me
I guessed from a mountain somewhere in the hinterlands
the day he disappeared, the earth shock, I knew he
had been a troll trying his luck in the human world
WINTER
Winter showing snowy splendor
elating elegant whiteness
in calm cold and chilly wonder.
Silvery snow shines to impress.
Chilled cold breeze blowing much no less.
Snow falling as droplets of rain.
Sledges slide on slippery snow.
Snow caps on sky kissing mountain.
Placid sky holds Sun in pale glow
White panorama to follow.
Birch displays ivory white bark
Boxwood hedges hide shy snowdrops
Nesting success by bird sky lark.
Snow flakes slipping on most roof tops.
Frosty waves hitting winter crops.
12/31/21
Contest by Francine Roberts
Winter Quintain (English )
Its the first day back to work after Christmas. The news is of snow dumps. Outside it's drizzling mostly, with small thin wisps of snow - hardly visible on the hedges and ledges. Nowhere near enough for sledges.
Its grey, overcast, damp. Outside it is no better.
But that isn't all. Its a day of smoked salmon, charcuterie, rum and beer.
Of a Longleat trip, of curry, of laughter, of cheer.
For today is also a birthday. A time for jollity, celebration.
Today is FUNeral day.
Today is FUN-et al day... as well.
In our society its a tough juxtaposition. We don't do death well.
We mourn the loss. We don't celebrate the life, despite the words the celebrant says.
In the same way that as our children grow out of childhood we celebrate becoming an adult - but don't mourn the loss of childhood, of innocence.
Two lives.
One ending, one moving on.
Happy Birthday son of mine.
Reanne... In Peace.
(c) Ian Diddams 2020
WINTER ENTERS
Winter showing snowy splendor
elating elegant whiteness
in calm cold and chilly wonder.
Snow falling as droplets of rain.
Sledges slide on slippery snow.
Snowcaps on sky-kissing mountain.
Placid sky holds Sun in pale glow
Snow-white passive panorama
Sunrays shine on silvery snow.
Birch displays ivory-white bark
Boxwood hedges hide shy snowdrops
Nesting success by bird sky lark.
Chrysanthemums: Winter glory
Also, Dahlias and snowflakes.
Frosty weather is Winter’s story.
Santa Clause, glad about reindeer.
Thawing heart of barren winter,
for little warmth come close My Dear.
12/20/20
'Winter' Contest by Emile Pinet
DECEMBER
Sledges slide on slippery snow.
In snow sun rays dazzle and glow
Santa Claus glad on reindeer- ride
In slippery snow sledges slide.
Snowfall occurs in winter-rain
Snow caps on sky-kissing Mountain
Joyous children play with snowball
In winter-rain occurs snowfall.
Snowflakes-snowdrops: Winter glory
Snowy weather is winter’s story.
Green peas and spinach are winter crops
Winter glory: Snowflakes-snowdrops
Winter snow white in splendid show
Chilled windy breeze feels free to flow
Also, take care against frost bite.
Splendid winter snow silver white .
06/15/20
Re edited on 11/13/22
November or December Quatrain
Contest by Caren Crutsinger
I am reminded as I look to this bell
with Penola inscribed upon it in brass
of heritage to which it testifies well.
Sixteen men borne over the ocean to vast
wide wastes of white wilderness, there to explore
Antarctic channels, glaciers and savage coasts.
There among penguins and seals were many more
fauna, and features to chart in icy blasts
from sledges pulled by dogs over frozen ground.
Journals and artefacts have yet more to tell
of explorers by a common purpose bound,
held safe in that schooner, their home with its bell.
Grandsons are lifted to ring it yet again,
re-sounding remote ventures of these great men.
"Siren Sings Poe Home"
Bells are ringing
Can you hear me singing?
Poe absent, finds his feet
6 feet under snow
Soul is free flying
with black feathery things
Sharp knives slicing the cold
Midnight wings
dancing the Passepied
with the tintinnabulation
of swinging titular poets
Murders of Crows
Christmas comes
Christmas goes
(LadyLabyrinth/2018)
Christmas, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaGBQeJ6SgM
"Hear the sledges with the bells -
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEUC4eZjjA
ANGELS HAVING FUN
White clouds, angels sledges, watch them flying,
wings assist their leaps, winds taunt them, laughing!
Blowing themselves out, what now they shout, what?
Angles look bemused, time to set the sun,
they blush, the clouds glow red, evensong calls!
Bells ring out, beckoning, the rave begins!
Winter’s white shawl gently envelops
purple heather on the hillside
Children launch their shiny sledges
on fresh crisp glistening snow;
joyful laughter fills the air.
Bite Size Poem No25 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
10-16-17
Long ago at Christmas time.
By Stanley Russell Harris
The new mad author
And A poetry soup honourably mentioned poet
7th January 2017
Long ago at Christmas time.
It always use to snow.
We kids slid down hills on dustbin lids.
We really did you know.
Rich kids, well they had posh sledges.
Bought from the shops, you see.
But we went down them hills as fast as them.
On our dustbin lids did we!
Once I used a plastic bag.
It really did slide fast.
And I felt every blinking bump.
And had a real sore hand!
I used my hand as a brake.
Or in the book I would go.
As did some of those posh sledges!
They really did you know.
I wish it had snowed this Christmas.
I really do you know.
As now plastic bags are stronger.
They really are you know.
But sadly, there was no snow.
No posh sledge or plastic bag could I see.
And now we all have wheelie bins.
No dustbin lids have we.
We cannot destroy government property.
And remove the wheelie bin plastic lids.
Although if we could. I’m sure we would.
Slide down that hill merrily.
Gone, now just a memory the warmth of summer,
winter's icy fingers now take a harsh grip turning
land to frozen waste. Blanketing it in snow as the
nights draw in, reflecting the bright moon.
Children having fun sledges rushing down the hill
and snowmen appear standing as sentinels to winter.
The whisk of skiers as they fly past speeding downwards
their colourful ski suits adding splashes of vivid colour.
Jack Frost hard at work decorating trees with icicles
some short and others long sparkling, reflecting light
appearing like gems amidst the sprinkled snow covered
branches. Once more winter reigns supreme.
Icy winds howl across the valleys causing drifts
of snow some eight foot deep, chilling bones
making us huddle down in fleece lined coats
Rosy cheeks blaze out from under hoods,
And fingers freezing cold from handling snow.
contentment in every face as people head home.
To cups of hot chocolate and toasty warm fires
shutting out for now winter's icy blast.
glittering snow falls
covering the earth in white
making her bridal
Gently yet persistently the snow falls cloaking all in a
white veil. Monstrous drifts block roads and paths.
How can people get to the church? The pastor waits wringing
his hands in despair. Soon the people arrive in sledges and
snowshoes. The bride no longer sparkling white, her gown is
torn and dirty from the journey. Today only one bride is
glistening and shining as more flakes fall clothing earth
in pristine white, yet she has no groom to wed.
icicles are forming
growing in all shapes and sizes
dangling sparkle
With time they grow longer and thicker. Forming many weird
shapes. At last a man of ice is born and quickly the pastor
says the vows ice and snow are joined and forever united.
As for the other bride she also said her vows and lived happily
soon forgetting it had not been perfect.
ice and snow are wed
together they form glistening gems
emitting pure white
I remember so well the crisp days of winter,
we would dress so quickly to get out in the snow,
with welly's and coats at the ready,
god it was such a long time ago.
The parks were filled with children and sledges
screaming oh my we had so much fun,
building snowman and fights with different size snowballs
and the hats were off, and the coats undone.
We did not feel the cold weather at all
all our senses belonged to the snow
I wish I could go back and re-live all that fun
pity it was so long ago.
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