Catherine is this week’s hostess at Reading to the Core
Half way through last weekend’s blizzard, I took the photo shown below, while standing in our front doorway. After a couple of sidewalk shovelings, the snow was probably “only” eight of the eventual seventeen inches. The entire background is snow, which covered the lawn, as well as the front evergreen shrubbery (save the potted shrub on the left, as well as errant branches poking their way through the snow in postures of “Help!” –or surrender). The little area of darkness at the top of the background is a hint of the truck parked in front of the house.
Today, there still are multi-foot drifts, but the area shown in the photo is down to seven inches of snow. We’ve weathered a storm. I written a poem. Who could ask for anything more?
If you, too, experienced the blizzard–before, during, and after: I hope all went well for you! God bless you!
cbhanek 
What a fun poem! Although “Cocoa desired” is true for me any time during the winter. We only got a few inches, but it was nice to have a reason to stay home and read. Glad you weathered the storm and shared your poem with us!
Thank you very much, in the midst of all your PF hostessing responsibilities, for taking time to read the poem and for sharing such affirming comments. I’m with you on the cocoa–(truthfully, day in/day out, I’m a dark chocolate freak, no matter what the season). God bless you!
Love this – especially the repeated end rhyme, and the line ‘Collars highered’. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for taking time to read and to comment on the poem. I’m glad you were able to decipher the “Collars highered,” given the placement vis a vis the little bit of vegetation that appeared through the snow. It’s such fun inventing words, especially when there’s no red pen to bloody the text: sorry! wrong! God bless you. Thanks again! I’m so very glad you liked the repeated end rhyme.
Your rhyming is wonderful, and I too love the “collars highered”-very clever. What a storm!
Yes! What a storm it was! Did you experience any “fall out” (or “fall down”) before we did? Thanks so much for taking time to read the poem and to share your much-appreciated comments about rhyme and your favorite line. “Collars up”–even now! God bless you!
I love the progression of the day starting with wired kids and expired milk and moving toward shoveling, stamina and fatigue, with some hot chocolate along the way. That encapsulates our snow days, too. I like the collar highered, especially, too. Very Seussian. Reminds me of the Lorax where factories were biggered. The picture is very telling, too, and I like that you left the date stamp there, visible and proud. A historic photo and poem. 🙂
Thank you very much for reading the poem with so much attention to detail–detail that you most generously took time to share as most welcomed feedback. Much appreciated! …I considered removing the date stamp, but decided it lended a certain historical ambiance (might be the history teacher in me). Thank you for commenting on that! Thank you, too, for reacting to the chronology. I started changing the order of some lines to be more logical/chronological, and then decided to just go with my gut…I’m glad the poem rang true on that score for you!…You piqued my creative curiosity with your statement about the activities encapsulating your snow days, too. I toyed with other contextual frameworks for the poem. Might it have been more interesting as a Snow Day Inventory/Reality Checklist, inviting readers to check off the elements experienced in their snow day? …So many ways to go…so many what ifs…God bless you for entering into the conversation so fully! Thank you!
I greatly admired how short and piquant yours was, while still hitting the emotional highlights. I had written an ode to a snow day, http://friendlyfairytales.com/2014/02/05/ode-to-a-snowday/ but it probably went on too long for the modern reader. I appreciate the chat just as much as you! Blessings to you and yours, Brenda
Thank you for sharing the link; I’ve just read and enjoyed your snowy day ode!…One thing strikes me always, besides the engaging words, and that is the visual delight that comes from your crisp, clear complementary photos. Scrolling through your web site, without even reading one word, says so much..volumes, in fact, as the saying goes… (You know..the one picture…) Thank you! And special thanks for the much-needed blessings–snow or no snow!
I do love to start from photographs. It helps me focus, when there is always so much to say. I used to put up more per post, but now my site’s storage is getting full. I don’t want to have to pay for more, being nearly as frugal as my parents were. Can we help turning into our parents? I think no. LOL I’m glad you liked my ode. My children are sorely disappointed by winter so far this year. Not one snow day and no snow in the forecast. It’s not April, yet, though. 😉 Hugs, Brenda
Love the poem — how it succinctly encapsulates the entire experience. We got almost 30 inches — never seen anything like it. Cocoa desired made me smile — everything else you mentioned is spot on too. 🙂
Thank you for taking time to read the poem and to share your affirming comments! Our local newspaper said that our town officially got 22 1/2, and although we’ve (too) often gotten more, that was more than enough:) Glad to know you’re a hot chocolate person, too! Thank you again for your kind appraisal. God bless you!
This is such fun, cb – so many clever (and appropriate) two-word phrases! Though I hate to think what you did about the desired cocoa if the milk was expired. Forget the 17 inches of snow, that’s the true disaster! 😉
Your witty comments, as always, make me smile. Thank you! (Actually, I take my instant cocoa “straight”–no diluting chocolate for me:) Thank you so much for taking time to read the poem; it is very gratifying that you enjoyed it! God bless you!
This is a delightful poem that takes in the whole range of actions during Snowmaggedon 2016. Fortitude required says its all. This is one for the blizzard section of Winter Wanderings. I hope you agree.
Absolutely! I would be totally honored if the blizzard section of WW included this snippet of Snowmaggedon:) (Do you capture the photo-poem from here, or do I need to email you with it as an attachment?) …Thank you for taking time to read and to respond so positively to the snowy day chain reaction…God bless you!
Oh my goodness – “Milk expired” – ha! Well, this is why you “Northerners” (or mid-Atlantic-and-uppers) are known for your grit. I’m glad when life handed you snowballs (snow drifts/towers/banks) you made poetry! Thanks for sharing.
Thank YOU! I love that “you (a.k.a me) made poetry!” …Because you were the PF hostess the first time I (very nervously) posted, and kindly allayed my posting fears, it always is a very special treat for me when you read/respond to a posting. Thank you! p.s. I think it’s the extremes of seasonal weather changes, and especially the summer humidity that earns us that grit reputation… The expired milk doesn’t bother me–I like my chocolate straight, thank you! Thank you again for taking time to read and to share your much-appreciated comments..snowballs (snow drifts/towers/banks)–you nicely summarized it! God bless you!
Love love LOVE your poem!! But I also want the poem that goes with these words, “errant branches poking their way through the snow in postures of “Help!” –or surrender”
Thank you for filling me with joy and gratitude–the kind one feels when someone compliments an offspring. My heart is especially warmed by your xeroing in on those “errant branches…” I think that’s all the poem there is, but if you want to adopt those kids, I’d love to see how you upbring them! God bless you. Again and again, thank you for taking time to read the post, and especially for your feedback-enthusiasm. It’s catching!
What a clever poem! Love the “plans backfired” and “lines rewired” and of course, “cocoa desired.” Yes, a productive snow day indeed!
Thank you! It seems like a lifetime ago that the blizzard brought with it so much productivity:) Thank you for reading and sharing your most welcomed feedback! God bless you!
Sorry it took me so long to say how very accurate your poem is! Nicely done. 🙂
Thank you! I’ve been off the computer for a couple of days, and just found your very nice comment, which felt like a best-ever “welcome back” greeting. God bless you for reading the poem and sharing your affirming thoughts. They always hold special validity coming from you!