Tag: Christmas Holiday season.

Poetry Friday is HERE: Christmas Haiku and Slippers.

Welcome everyone to Poetry Friday! Today I have the honor of being the host. I hope all of you and your loved ones are finding joy in this holiday season.

What is Poetry Friday? It is explained Here.

Christmas is moving along at my house. Our tree is decorated. 

this young pine's branches
firmly grip fragile treasures--
as if it grew them.

©Janice Scully 2023

I made stollen with my friend, Leah, something we do every year together. 

fresh Christmas stollen,
obviously sprung from snow,
not a hot oven.

© Janice Scully

But, in spite of a tree and baking, this doesn’t feel like an ordinary Christmas now that 2024 is around the corner. I feel unsettled, another word for free floating anxiety.

I wrote another poem, one that does not concern Christmas, but instead, Democracy. 

TAKING DEMOCRACY FOR GRANTED

like slippers
so cleverly made 
that you can’t recall
having cold feet at all, 
 
until one day you jump out
of bed, put on your old slippers
and for the first time 
your feet feel 
the ice-cold kitchen floor!

You stare into the early silence,
vexed with regret  
because you never fixed 
that insidious hole,
           
and now
must replace 
the sole. 

© Janice Scully ©2023 (draft)

Have a happy holiday season! Add your blog to the list below. I look forward to reading them.

I thought I’d try writing an “Elfchen” poem or two this week. On Dec 29, the Poetry Sisters are sharing their “Elfchen” poems and invited the Poetry Friday community to give the form a try. See Tanita’s post Here. I found a description of the Elfchen from Here. It is a short poem, which of course doesn’t mean easy. I hope I’ll have one to share in two weeks.

Two Silly Poems ala Valerie Worth

Happy Poetry Friday, this week hosted by poet Patricia Franz Here. Thank you, Patricia for hosting. I look forward to seeing what you have for us this week!

I enjoyed reading all the poems recently written in the style of Valerie Worth and shared on Poetry Friday. Michelle Kogan wrote two lovely ones Here and on that post are the links to the other Poetry Sisters and their poems in the Valerie Worth style.

I took out my copy of ALL THE SMALL POEMS AND FOURTEEN MORE by Valerie Worth. I noticed that, although it seems she has a poem for absolutely everything, she doesn’t, of course, who could? There is so much to write about.

So here are two more poems, ala Valerie Worth. The subjects came to mind as I have been in my basement sewing. Keep in mind they are first drafts. 

NEEDLE

Slim
Sharp
Sliver of steel.

It weaves
straight in 
and out 
of pieces of fabric,

requiring a machine
or fingers
to direct it

because one eye
is not enough.  

© Janice Scully 2023 (draft)
THREAD

You're rarely seen,

silent, a humble servant
when we're out and about

at school, at play 
your work is ignored--

you keep our clothes on us
instead of the floor. 

© Janice Scully (draft)

I’m making a table runner for my son and his wife. Do I like the combination of colors? I think so but things look very different when they are unfinished, so I have my fingers crossed. I think it will be colorful and pretty on their table.

I have found the holiday season a welcome diversion from the news that continues to make me sad. I went to see the Syracuse Stage production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL last night and as it always does, reminded me what is important, that is, kindness to others.

So on that note, Happy Holidays! Have a great weekend. Thank you Patricia for hosting!