—Public Domain Photos
Courtesy of Nolcha Fox
First snowfall is confetti
blowing in the wind
to cheer me on
to sweaters,
soaking warmth from flames
in the corner fireplace.
blowing in the wind
to cheer me on
to sweaters,
soaking warmth from flames
in the corner fireplace.
THE SCENT OF SNOW
Snowflakes smell of mint whispers
from the past, an after-dinner
sweetness that dissolves
my fear of endings into
firelight and cider mulled
with cinnamon and spice.
AN UNEXPECTED SNOWSTORM
My husband clears the walkway and the deck.
It’s 29 degrees and snowing.
My husband wears his sandals and some
shorts.
If he’s freezing, he will never tell.
It’s 29 degrees and snowing.
He wears a T-shirt shoveling the snow.
If he’s freezing, he will never tell.
We don’t live in California anymore.
He wears a T-shirt shoveling the snow.
He wears sandals with his polyester shorts.
We don’t live in California anymore.
He clears away the snow, dressed for summer.
HEARTLESS
She swallowed the key to the box.
The box contained her heart.
Heartache wasn’t worth the pain.
The pain was locked away.
The box contained her heart.
Her heart could not feel pain.
The pain was locked away.
She locked away her love.
Her heart could not feel ache.
Heartache wasn’t worth the pain.
Pain locked away her love.
Love swallowed the key to the lock.
She swallowed the key to the box.
The box contained her heart.
Heartache wasn’t worth the pain.
The pain was locked away.
The box contained her heart.
Her heart could not feel pain.
The pain was locked away.
She locked away her love.
Her heart could not feel ache.
Heartache wasn’t worth the pain.
Pain locked away her love.
Love swallowed the key to the lock.
BARGAIN BIN
I am not your bargain bin.
You cannot pick and choose for cheap.
You cannot toss what you won’t keep.
You have to love me as I am.
You cannot pick and choose for cheap.
I’m not a bargain to abuse.
You have to love me as I am.
Or when your back is turned, I’ll leave.
I’m not a bargain to abuse.
You cannot toss what you won’t keep.
Or when your back is turned, I’ll leave.
I can find a better deal.
I promise I’ll stay.
I promise you diamonds,
expensive perfumes.
I promise you
I’ll love you forever.
But only for this instant.
NO ROOM
I carried Guilt upon my back.
Grief jumped up beside her.
Stubbornness was my next guest.
Confusion wants to join them.
Grief jumped on, she loves to chat.
My back is slowly bending.
Confusion wants to join the fun.
I have no room to give him.
My back is slowly bending.
Stubbornness and Guilt are fat.
I have no space to give them.
I shook off my passengers, now I’m standing straighter.
My spine is a caved-in roof.
My skin is weathered
and rotten wood.
My hair—
Let’s not mention my hair.
At least I know I can fix it.
WHO, ME?
You’ll never find me
on trail or track.
Who wants to see
my bulging spare tire
jiggling in time to my trot?
I need to keep
what is left of my knees,
and keep coffee
in my cup.
It’s too difficult
to get out of slippers,
I can’t tie running shoes.
I will never run
out of excuses.
I have no reason to run.
______________________
Today’s LittleNip:
CLIFF HANGER
—Nolcha Fox
I’ve never climbed a cliff before.
I don’t know why people
want to conquer Mother Nature.
If I want a challenge,
I’ll watch a murder mystery
at the movie theater.
______________________
—Medusa, with thanks to Nolcha Fox for today’s fine poetry adventures!
You’ll never find me
on trail or track.
Who wants to see
my bulging spare tire
jiggling in time to my trot?
I need to keep
what is left of my knees,
and keep coffee
in my cup.
It’s too difficult
to get out of slippers,
I can’t tie running shoes.
I will never run
out of excuses.
I have no reason to run.
______________________
Today’s LittleNip:
CLIFF HANGER
—Nolcha Fox
I’ve never climbed a cliff before.
I don’t know why people
want to conquer Mother Nature.
If I want a challenge,
I’ll watch a murder mystery
at the movie theater.
______________________
—Medusa, with thanks to Nolcha Fox for today’s fine poetry adventures!
—Illustration Courtesy of Public Domain
For future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Poets’ bios appear on their first MK visit.
To find previous posts, type the name
of the poet (or poem) into the little
beige box at the top left-hand side
of this column. See also
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom
of the blue column on the right
side of this column to find
any date you want.
Miss a post?
You can find our most recent ones by
scrolling down under this daily one.
Or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column.
(Please excuse typos in older posts!
Blogspot has been through a lot of
incarnations in 20 years!)
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Poets’ bios appear on their first MK visit.
To find previous posts, type the name
of the poet (or poem) into the little
beige box at the top left-hand side
of this column. See also
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom
of the blue column on the right
side of this column to find
any date you want.
Miss a post?
You can find our most recent ones by
scrolling down under this daily one.
Or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column.
(Please excuse typos in older posts!
Blogspot has been through a lot of
incarnations in 20 years!)
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
Happy New Year!