by JOHN BECK
Member since:
August 27, 2008

Winter ~ A List Poem for Monday Writing Essential

January 30, 2012 10:32 AM UTC
views: 0 | 19 people recommend this | comments: 58


Snow crystals

Fractal flakes

Crisp breeze

Graceful drifts

Shovel and broom

Mittens and gloves

Lined boots

Fuzzy socks

Warm hat

Ears covered

Curious chickadees

Whitetail hoof prints

Nordic skis

Hot cocoa

Crackling fire

Handmade afghan

Snuggle


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




This week’s writing challenge: tell a winter tale.  Any tale with winter as a theme will do







Comments: 58

Greg Schiller Jan 30, 2012, 12:46pm UTC
A fine list, John. I followed right along with you, all the way home.
Whitetail hoof prints
I like that one. I follow the deer prints around my woods sometimes just to figure out what is going through their heads. I can see how they like to use cover - but then the next day they will totally ignore it - and everything else.

I have a lot to learn about deer.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 1:00pm UTC
Thanks, Greg. They like our trails but of course also have their own. At times they're well-travelled, at times they're elsewhere. We, of course, also have the tracks of many other kinds of wildlife in our snow.

I had never heard of list poems before I was introduced to them by Susan Bunig on Mindful Poetry, but this just seemed appropriate to me somehow.
MW Q. Jan 30, 2012, 1:40pm UTC
Contrast of cold and warm images. Simple and perfect.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 2:24pm UTC
Thanks, MW. Folks seem to enjoy the warmth after a day of enjoying the cold activities.
elizabeth evans Jan 30, 2012, 4:31pm UTC
Absolutely. Last week we had the fireplace blazing and cocoa in hand after a morning of shoveling and walking out in the bogs.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 4:54pm UTC
I can picture you and Magi doing just that, Bob.
We did. And I said to Jack Frost, Bring it on!
Sonia M. Jan 30, 2012, 2:25pm UTC
I like this format a lot....List Poems... Who would have thought?!

The best parts for me:
Fuzzy socks
Warm hat
Ears covered
Hot cocoa
Crackling fire
Handmade afghan
Snuggle


Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.........

We have no chickadees....
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 2:28pm UTC
Thanks, Sonia. It was a tough choice between "snuggle" and "cuddle".
Sonia M. Jan 30, 2012, 2:34pm UTC
Well...you have Barbara to cuddle with so either would have been fine...
;-)
Jeanine Arnold Jan 30, 2012, 3:02pm UTC
List poem...never heard of that before but I like it. A check list for winter!
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 3:44pm UTC
Thanks, Jeanine.
Alison H. Jan 30, 2012, 3:16pm UTC
Delightful!
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 3:45pm UTC
Thank you, Alison.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 30, 2012, 3:42pm UTC
For me, winter has been very mild, thus far. I await the day where the weather suddenly changes and your list is one I can relate to. :)
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 3:46pm UTC
Ours has been mild also, but we have small drifts today and the tracks Rudy and I made this morning are hidden under new snow. Thanks, Michelle.
Janet "Jax" B. Jan 30, 2012, 4:01pm UTC
Nice John....and we don't have any of that here this year...(sniff, sniff)
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 4:24pm UTC
Maybe Angela needs a break, no pun intended. Perhaps you should come visit the snow country.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 4:25pm UTC
Thanks, Jax.
elizabeth evans Jan 30, 2012, 4:33pm UTC

Featured in Tales of Winter at the Triple Name Club.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 4:55pm UTC
Thanks for the feature, Bob.
Veronica Hosking Jan 30, 2012, 5:12pm UTC
Wonderful images of winter. I don't miss any of it. We were sunny and near 80 this past weekend. Had a picnic brunch at Papago park yesterday.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 9:15pm UTC
Thanks, Veronica.
Peter Joseph Swanson Jan 30, 2012, 6:42pm UTC
I LOVE this!
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 9:16pm UTC
Thanks, Peter.
Mustafa Demiri Jan 30, 2012, 9:15pm UTC
Ahhhh... these are many of the beauties of winter... an excellent list.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 9:23pm UTC
Thank you, Mustafa.
Granny Janny Jan 30, 2012, 10:18pm UTC
I like the last line the best!
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 10:22pm UTC
Thanks, Jan. That works about any time of year, but better by the fire than when all hot & sweaty.
Orbus Argentum Jan 30, 2012, 10:35pm UTC
Good man. Always end with a snuggle.
JOHN BECK Jan 30, 2012, 11:25pm UTC
Thanks, Orb.
William Dotani Jan 31, 2012, 2:22am UTC
Lovely action imagery makes me wonder why your last word has no 'ing.'
JOHN BECK Jan 31, 2012, 8:00am UTC
Excellent point, Bill.
JOHN BECK Jan 31, 2012, 8:00am UTC
Thank you.
Irina Dimitric Jan 31, 2012, 3:46am UTC
Delightful winter list poem... We used to drink hot tea withe rum.
JOHN BECK Jan 31, 2012, 8:02am UTC
When we were first married and it got way below zero, I put some Droste's cocoa and sugar in the bottom of our liter mugs, added enough milk to stir into a paste, filled the mugs with hot coffee and dumped a shot of dark rum in each. It warmed our bones.
Thanks, Irina.
Irina Dimitric Feb 1, 2012, 6:37am UTC
Yum, that must have been so good!
JOHN BECK Feb 1, 2012, 7:02am UTC
Yes, especially on a cold night.
Allen H. Jan 31, 2012, 4:51am UTC
Fractal Flakes grabbed my attention!
JOHN BECK Jan 31, 2012, 8:03am UTC
Thanks, Allen. I admit I like that line also.
Richard Thuss Jan 31, 2012, 8:19am UTC
And cold fingers, icy nose, and frozen toes to you. I too loved "fractal flakes"
JOHN BECK Jan 31, 2012, 8:56am UTC
Thanks, Richard. Rudy and I just got back from the trails. Cross country skiing was great when we left but the snow is already getting sticky and the forecast is for warm temperatures today, so that's the end of skiing for a while.
I think this poem pretty well lists it all ... except perhaps for icicles and a frozen pond.
JOHN BECK Jan 31, 2012, 8:57am UTC
We haven't had icicles yet this year. There are some frozen lakes around and of course the ice fishermen will go out as soon as there is any hope of the ice supporting them.
Thanks, Magi.
Here the ice on ponds has formed, thickened,melted and retreated ... a number of times. Apparently, it is most unseasonal.
Selene N. Feb 1, 2012, 10:46am UTC
Hot cocoa... yum...
JOHN BECK Feb 1, 2012, 11:45am UTC
Especially in cold winter weather. Thanks, Selene.
Ann Wilmer-Lasky Feb 1, 2012, 2:59pm UTC
This makes me want to dive into a warm, warm mug of hot chocolate.
JOHN BECK Feb 1, 2012, 3:38pm UTC
Or you could just drink a couple mugs full. :) Thanks, Ann.
Ann Wilmer-Lasky Feb 1, 2012, 4:04pm UTC
:)
A. F. Stewart Feb 3, 2012, 6:57pm UTC
A delightful poem.
JOHN BECK Feb 3, 2012, 7:31pm UTC
Thank you kindly.
Priya P. Feb 4, 2012, 9:11pm UTC
So wintery and cozy a poem. I think I'll go make some hot cocoa now :)
JOHN BECK Feb 5, 2012, 7:32am UTC
Thanks, Priya.
Pam Brittain Feb 5, 2012, 2:39pm UTC
Hugs and snuggles to you.
JOHN BECK Feb 5, 2012, 4:59pm UTC
Thanks, Pam. Right now we have sunshine and the snow is almost gone.
Jaxx F. Feb 7, 2012, 6:06pm UTC
Well....I don't have much of your list this far south, however--I like boots, fuzzy socks & hot cocoa. I also like your list.
JOHN BECK Feb 7, 2012, 6:23pm UTC
Thanks, Jaxx.

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