Poetry and Fiction – Just “One Word” Away (Winter)
One word becomes one idea, becomes one sentence, becomes one
poem, becomes one story. It must start from just “one word”. Today my one word
is “Winter”.
WINTER
Ol’ Man “Winter” loves to visit
each year. He is such a frightful man, and enjoys carrying a heavy cane with
him. He uses his cane to tap at our windows and bang on our doors, and always
manages to get into our homes. He is quite large and wears a huge cape. His
face is as grey as his long aging hair and his teeth are as rotten as devil’s
decay. The stench he leaves behind with every step will stop you in your
tracks. Just keep the home fires burning, your rooms cozy, and appreciate the magic
of the white fallen snow outside. Winter is absolutely beautiful, yet Ol’ Man
Winter expertly tries to make it ugly. He is smart and he is cunning, but we
are just as sharp. So remember that once he gets into your home, flush him out
with the happy glow of your fireplace. He will fall to his death from a large
window in your home, and remain buried in the new fallen snow. Yes, he will
awaken next Winter, but now we know what to do with him!
WINTER
Ol’ Man Winter
came knocking at my door
With cane in
hand - he blew right in
tapping on my
floor
His frigid
fingers iced my home
The fireplace went
out
He left snowy footprints
all around
and flung his
cape about
The echoes of
his violent steps
left everyone in
awe
His frightful
aura
His violent
strut
Shook us to the
core
His wretched
face and decayed teeth
made for an
unwanted guest
With maligned
smile and putrid scent
He put us to the
test
His grey strands
of aging hair
fell about the
room
His unspoken
words and hissing slurs
were dressed
with doom and gloom
We let him
trudge step by step
to our bedrooms
up above
Unbeknownst to
him
we relit the
fireplace
and the swelter donned
a shove
We smiled with
glee
when we heard
him leave
through the
window in the walkway
Ol’ Man Winter fell
to his death
Buried on this
“Snow Day”
Sometimes
the seasons approach our lives so fiercely, that we personify them with
characters of their own. We greet them, study them, embrace them - then finally
learn how to accept them and what, exactly, we need to do with them the next
time they stop by!!!
