It’s Poetry Friday and I hope everyone is well. Thank you Heidi Mordhorst for hosting. I found her list of “Quarantine Questions”from last week’s Poetry Friday a useful way to approach each day. So thank you, Heidi, for that.
“What am I grateful for today?” is the first question on Heidi’s list of Quarantine questions. Today, that answer was easy. I’m grateful that my family is well.
Two days ago, my son, Phil, who lives in Manhattan, called to say he developed a fever, some chest congestion. He rarely gets sick. My husband and I stayed calm but were horrified, imagining he’d get sicker, even though our son is young and healthy. But, of course, that’s no guarantee. Hearing my son had such symptoms was the first time I felt this pandemic in such a scary way.
Fortunately, the following day, which was April first, and coincidentally Phil’s birthday, he felt better and the next day better still. I have to assume he had a mild case of Covid 19; it’s not easy to find out for sure. But it seems he’ll be fine.
I attended to the other things further down on Heidi’s Quarantine Questions list such as exercising, keeping in touch with friends, and trying to create something in spite of the distractions. I made broccoli soup and planned an apple cake for later.
Then, along my driveway, I encountered another first. My first daffodil was in early bloom and it inspired this short poem.
Ten others will come,
buttery yellow,
faces krinkled and new,
gregarious fellows.
But one arrived early,
for the week or two stay,
and saved me from waiting
one more lonely day.
© Janice Scully 2020
Thank you for stopping by! Make sure you stop and see what Heidi has in store this Poetry Friday.
I’m so glad your son is on the mend. What a scary phone call to receive. Thank you for sharing all your ‘firsts’, especially the daffodil poem. I love the line: “faces krinkled”, I won’t look at a daffodil the same way again. 🙂
I am glad to hear the better news about your son, Janice. I really love your daffodil poem. A lot.
I love its buttery yellow crinkled face, especially the way you wrote it. I think it’s hard to write a new twist on a daffodil poem and you did it! I am going to copy it, so hope you I can have your permission. Just for me to post in my house with full credit to you, my friend.
I keep trying to get as much done as I can on a variety of fronts. Found out a friend in NYC is quite sick with it but no test. Not hospitalized, but am concerned. Have someone I know who probably has it, but has a medium version of it. I can’t wait until they have the tests figured out, the treatments and the vaccine. I am grateful for the hardwork of the medical people and especially all those on the front lines. It has to be just awful for so many of them and of course worse for the ill and dying. Prayers for health.
Grateful for Poetry Friday!
Janet Clare F.
Thank you, Janet. I’d be honored if you used my poem. Stay well. It seems shameful to me for the federal government to praise heroes while having left it up to the states to procure life saving items and not pressuring states like Florida to do more to stem the spread. It’s like praising soldiers while sending them off to impossible war.
So glad your son’s going to be okay! That must have really been scary to get that call.
Your daffodil poem is lovely. We have some in bloom right now and their sunny yellow crinkled faces cheer us up a lot. We covet our daffodils since they’re the only flowers the deer won’t eat.
I’m glad to hear your son is on the mend. That would be a frightening call as a parent. I suspect before this is over, we will all know someone affected by COVID19. Your daffodil poem is lovely. They are one of my favorite spring flowers–one of the first to bring a bright burst of color.
Oh Janice – what a scary thing for you as a mother! I am glad he is doing better, and also glad the daffodil has put in an appearance at just the right time. Hugs to you xx
Janice, how scary! So glad your son is okay. I’m worried about both my daughters, especially the one who has existing health conditions and works at a daycare. Hope gets us through. I love your daffodil poem and the heart in it. Just wonderful and small and personal.
Thank you, Laura. I hope your family is safe and doing well.
So glad to hear your son is mending! We celebrated an April Fool’s birthday too, my daughter’s 21st, and managed to have a good time of a certain kind. I’m so glad your daffodil arrived just in time to lift you! I wonder if you talk to your flowers and plants like I do?my kids tease me a lot!
Doesn’t everyone?
So glad to hear your son is feeling better, Janice! It was your daffodil poem that helped to make me feel better today. 🙂
Hooray for the daffodils, and for your son’s return to health!
Oh, Janice. I got teary-eyed reading this. I’m so glad the daffodil came! I love the description of them as “gregarious fellows.”
Hi Janice!
So glad for your ‘gregarious fellow,” & the lovely poem, with great image of green leaf plums with promise of bright yellow faces to march on.
Happy for your son’s good health news & your hubby’s birthday joy.
My hubby & I have young kids (well, adults:) sheltering in Boston & Copenhagen, so we are with you.
ut-oh, plumes,,,, not plums!
I’m glad someone else besides me makes typos. Stay well and thanks for reading.