Happy Poetry Friday!
Here we are smack dab in the middle of another midwestern Chicago Winter…I’m sharing a Mid Winter poem and some music to soothe whatever can use soothing, and shoo away any February blues.
MID WINTER…
Wars raging
Wanna stop but for
Relentless antagonists
Groundhog’s hibernating
Doesn’t give a hoot for
Shadows or unshmadows
Wintering bulbs
They’re ready, but better chill
It’s still toooo early
Helleborus buds
Have begun-but
Keep’m covered a bit longer
Sparrows chirrup and make a
lovely sing-song loop,
Even though it’s only February…
© 2023 Michelle Kogan draft
Laura Shovan at her blog is hosting this week’s poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Laura! Laura has a beautifully rich review of a new nonfiction picture book about families by Laura Purdie Salas. Mosey on over to her blog for lots more poetry pondering!
Wishing all in cold climates warm breezes to blow your way. We are again diving into the negatives tomorrow, and I eagerly welcome any warm breezes coming our way!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
You’ve captured all the senses in this post, Michelle. I love how “Sparrows chirrup…” persist through the coldest weather. A good reminder that spring will come and with it, a chorus of birds’ songs. Sending you warm thoughts! 🙂
Your poem implies that spring is coming, though not here yet, and the war still rages. Sadness but hope too in the poem and the hummingbird song. Good reminder to keep buds covered a bit longer. Thanks, Michelle!
Your February is Alabama’s early January…by February we’ve got daffodils and forsythia and redbud trees coming into bloom…instead of the blues, I find myself joyful about the coming spring! Thanks for the reminder that not everyone’s February is like mine.xo
We are warming up, yet still “It’s only February” so I will take the day & enjoy it, wondering what’s next! Wishing you some cozy time inside, Michelle. I waited to publish this so I could listen to your beautiful music gift!
Hooray! We made it to the half-way point. I’m hoping the second half will be as easy as the first. But, your poem reminds me that there are wars still being fought and I cannot even imagine what it must be like to suffer in war in winter. Ugh. Pretty music.
I love the sense of impatience–all the spring goodness is just ready to bust out!
This: “Wintering bulbs
They’re ready, but better chill
It’s still toooo early”
I was looking forward to my snowdrops blooming,.
I’m cheered by your wintering bulbs, helleborus bulbs, and the chirrup of squirrels! Stay warm!
Yes to all of these spring hope-fors! This cusp of spring, mid-winter is hard for me.
As I read your poem, I realized that mid-winter is kind of like Wednesdays! So much on the cusp of changing…thanks for that optimistic lens. (It’s especially welcome on a day when half my radiator pipes are frozen! )Also, I am so thankful I clicked on your link–the lyrics to the song you shared are stunningly beautiful. Wow!
What a treasure of loveliness in this post. Fab “Dream Walking” drawing and Mid Winter poem. I think we’re all feeling that February restlessness. Thanks for the music too — always nice to discover new-to-me artists! Soothing . . .
Even though I am in no way cold where I am, I still appreciated your soothing February offerings! Thank you!
Poor February—it’s still stuck in winter when we’re ready for spring. Here’s hoping for warm breezes
Very nice post 🙂🌺!
Love the winter buds stanza and your play on the word “chill”!