Winter Writes
I rise in the darkness of a
winter day,
drink a cup of peppermint
tea,
and breathe in pungent steam,
as the sun pokes its delicate
corona
above the hoary fields.
I am the flannel goddess of
dawn
the polyester priestess of
birdseed.
I open bins of sunflower and
millet
and measure out the right mix
for the finches, sparrows,
jays, and doves,
inviting them to a ceremony
of food.
Inside, I take off vest,
gloves, hat,
and blow on my icy fingers.
I sit at my computer and begin
to type.
My fingers move to the
rhythms of take offs and landings,
the whirr of wings providing
accompaniment
to the melody of my winter
writes.
Maralee Gerke lives and
writes in Madras, Oregon. She is and avid reader and gardener. She describes
herself as a work in progress. Her poems have been published in Calyx, Exit
Thirteen, Moonset, Bathtub Gin, Anthology, Nerve Cowboy, Avocet, and Tigers
Eye. She has published two books of poems and has had poetry and prose
accepted in several anthologies. Her work can be seen online at Shadow
Poetry, Long Story Short, and Moontown Café. She recently recorded 4
poems for the Oregon Poetic Voices Project. They can be heard at
oregonpoeticvoices.org One of her poems “Refuge”, was recently selected to be
printed as a limited edition broadside by the Penland School of Crafts.
Maralee I absolutely love your well written and picturesque poem. Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us here on Whispers.
ReplyDeleteLove, Charlene
Maralee,
ReplyDeleteA very special, seasonal poem.
Your friend,
David Fox
love 'the flannel goddess of dawn'
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this piece!
ReplyDelete"The polyester priestess of birdseed" is great! Delightful poem!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time of day for the beauty of the dawn, hearing the birds and watching the shy creatures retreat at the sounds of activity. To be a Goddess of - this dressed however you like - is truly wonderful. Thanks for sharing this magical write. SuZ
ReplyDelete