February 9, 2011

Grace's Lament: A Poem by a Fellow Blogger

February Grace posted the poem below on a Facebook poetry group page during the recent Snowpocalyps. I loved it and asked permission to share it here with you. Accompanying the poem is a wonderful winterscape painting, also by February Grace.
Visit February's blog, Pitch Slapped, and you'll find more creativity, written and visual, as well as a wonderful community of writers who comment on 'Bru's blog about writing, and more.

(Please note: I will be posting Pain, Part 3: Creativity and Pain here at http://www.appalachianmorning.blogspot.com/ this coming Saturday, February 12.)



Grace's Lament (...or Frigid Temps, High Whinge Advisory)
February Grace


Thirty-nine winters of snowy 'bliss'
you’d think that I'd get used to this
or that I'd finally move, but no
dark Janus rules, and I am owned

February, ordinary
contrary, I feel statuary
frozen, stone-thrown, pottery
my joints all stiff and doddery

First sweater, coat, next scarf then hat
the gloves and boots come after that
hands too cold to grip my keys
I’m deafened by my chattering teeth

My feet too wet, my hair too dry
static shocks send locks awry
can't change the fact my skin is cracked
despite the gloss my lips stay chapped

I could scratch spin on the street
though I’ve lost sensation in both feet
as I chip at ice that's seized the car
I envy the high temp on Mars

I wish all this would finally end
for my mitten-shaped, fair-weather friend
they say our trees will bloom come spring
at this point plants seem fictitious things

I start to think that Sol's a myth
or simply has ceased to exist
death by terminal case of 'blahs'
...'til I see he's citizen of Oz

Dear friends who email such sweet notes:
pictures tanning, beaches, boats
"the weather's fine, wish you were here!"
...no Christmas card for you next year!

I'm kidding--please do send those shots
--'vicarious' is all I got
at least I know there's someone who
is warmer now, than is Ms. 'Bru

There's only one advantage clear
I see to ever living here
so I tell myself as I bundle, snug
"...no poisonous snakes and no big bugs!"


© 2011 by February Grace. All rights reserved.

22 comments:

Michelle Gregory said...

love it.

February Grace said...

Thank you so much your kind words about my blog and for taking such an interest in this poem, Janice, it's really an honor to be here! :~) ( and to think I wrote this before we even got the worst of our snow so far...and we're back into the arctic freeze! BRRR!!! Is it spring yet?) Thank you again!

Hi Michelle! Thanks for stopping by my friend, glad you enjoyed it!

~bru

Davin Malasarn said...

This is fantastic! I love it that you rhyme...so many people are against that, but I love the challenge of it.

February Grace said...

Domey, thank you for visiting! :~) Thank you too for your kind words.

I agree it is a challenge (you try finding a word that works with 'pottery...' that isn't 'lottery' *laugh*). I love the challenge but I don't always rhyme in my poetry, it's just got a musical feel to it, like song lyrics, and so I do find I want to rhyme more often than not in poems.

I hadn't written a poem in years (I did a lot when I was a teen but I was afraid of being voted "Most Likely To Be The Next Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz" and so pretty much stopped.) Then around the first of the year, Lucky Press Author/cool bloggy chick and amazing poet Jessica Bell invited me to write some poetry with her group and I've been trying to write a poem a day.

I have missed a few days this month but I think this Lament was about twenty poems in, where I started really just having fun after some serious stuff.

It's not like riding a bike, though, going back to poetry- it's better. It's a lot more fun.

~bru

Carolyn V said...

Awesome Bru! I love it. You are so talented!

Dan said...

That was awesome! Having been outside (in the Chicago area) for most of the worst of "Snowmaggedon," I can definitely relate.

"at this point plants seem fictitious things" - great line. You've totally tapped into the psychological effects of cold, snowy weather that doesn't ever seem to go away.

The is picture is great, too. It makes me cold just looking at it. :)

J.B. Chicoine said...

So little makes me smile in February, but this sure did!

madeline40 said...

Just reading it made me cold. Well done, bru. Now I know the real reason why I left Illinois and Wisconsin.
So I'll continue to send you the sunny shots from Manhattan Beach.
xoxo Madeline

Jessica Bell said...

This certainly was one of the best poems I've read in the group so far! Good going, Bru! :o) And aren't you lovely, Janice, for showcasing it!

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Love it!

Jules said...

Love the poem and the art. I'm all for anywhere with no BIG bugs! :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Anne R. Allen said...

Love this. Love that you dare to rhyme. On my blog I have the info on a writing contest sponsored by a CA writing group I belong to. I think this would make a great entry, since in the last few years, rhyming poetry has won big (could this be some sort of post-post modern trend?) The subject is supposed to be "illumination" and I think the line "Sol's a myth" might qualify it. (Maybe work it in the title?) Just a thought. You rock, Bru! More info at slonightwriters.org.

February Grace said...

Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and encouragement- please forgive the run-by comment here to you all my eyes have had more than enough for the day and are warning me sternly it's time to rest- but it's been such an exciting day for me and I truly do thank each of you for reading and commenting and again thank kind and gracious Janice for hosting this poem. Thank you all!

hugs
~bru

DL Hammons said...

My fear of twinkies drove me here! I'm so glad I came!! :)

February Grace said...

Ooo, DL, afraid of Twinkies! I will remember that *evil giggle* :~) Thank you so much for visiting!

~bru

Anonymous said...

Delightful verse! Very skillful rhyming.

I came over from Lucky Press via Jessica Bell to meet you. I'm glad I did. It looks like you've done some wonderful work as an illustrator!
Ann Best, Author

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Bru, I love this! Both the poem and the picture. Absolutely splendid. I wish I did have pictures of beaches and sun to send you, but I don't. One day I will live somewhere exotic, or at least have a winter home there. :)

February Grace said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
February Grace said...

Ugh- typos! *shaking fist at myself*...repost!

Thank you Ann, for the kind words about my poem :~)

Isn't Janice an amazing illustrator? I'm so honored to get to visit here at the home of such an amazing artist. I stopped over to your blog, I can't believe I've never found it before!

Thanks so much Michelle <3 You know I'm holding on to my signed copy of Cinders so someday I can say "Yup...I knew her when!" xoxo bru

(P.S. Janice, I hope it's okay me fielding the responses to the poem, I know you're busy busy working this week!)

Angie Ledbetter said...

Janice - good call. Bru - nice words. win-win. :)

alberta ross said...

oh very nice and after the winter we have had in UK can feel every bone numbing drop in temp. (I'm sure it was colder over there!) but felt every word

Janice Phelps Williams said...

Thank you everyone for stopping by Appalachian Morning and reading and commenting on February's wonderful poem of winter woes. I am not surprised to find she has so many friends and fans of her blog and writing and it was a pleasure to include "Grace's Lament" here.

I hope you find this post and others encouraging and helpful to you as we endeavor to live lives of creativity, wonder, and love.

Ann Best, it is great to meet you and Michelle, you certainly have a lot to be proud of. And I love your book covers as well. DL: We are happy to keep you away from Twinkies!

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