"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Memories Of Snow


The snowfall that fell in the night
left footprints by my door,
across the porch and through the shrubs.
They snaked around the bird feeder
like a fox and goose game
you know....the one children no longer play. 

Some see this as proof and tabulate gains,
justified in their belief that all stays the same.
But whether man or beast, the intrusion
is plain, how close these things creep
up in the night.  

Did they look in my window
like the cat on the sill? 
Sniff under the shrubbery for grass green there still?
For snow doesn't stay here anymore.
As the drip in the eaves to the bird on a branch,
footprints dissolve like a good man’s intent.
The snow never lasts anymore.




Oh! Tiger burning bright
trapped outside your pleasant home
learn new ways or lose the game.
What good were you anyway?

For Poets United, Climate Change Motif 

19 comments:

Susan said...

Wow, wow, wow! Both surreal and realistic at once--and then in comes the tiger! Lovely and moving. I especially like this:
"They snaked around the bird feeder
like a fox and goose game
you know....the one children no longer play. "
Sigh. Memories, indeed.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

"Footprints dissolve like man's good intent." So true. The tiger clinging to life outside his habitat, hurts my heart, for we all put him there. Sigh. A wonderful write. Powerful.

Marja said...

Love the last line It says it all. A powerful poem indeed

Sumana Roy said...

This is a heartfelt write. A sense of loss is so pronounced here. Beautifully put.

Kim M. Russell said...

We haven’t had any snow yet but I agree that snow never lasts anymore. I feel uneasy about the image you have left me with this morning of someone creeping around the garden, leaving footprints everywhere, looking for snow. And I love the line: ‘footprints dissolve like a good man’s intent’.

Brendan said...

Your ending question is a pregnant one, we have to peer far to ask it, far enough to wonder at our privileged vantage and why we thought nature was so apart from us. Who else is fading with that snow?

Liza said...

You made me remember the deer who stood at my bedroom window, staring at me as I stared back...you have such beautiful images.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Susan,
Thank you very much. I'm glad it moved you.

Sherry,
I thought the prompt was powerful and hoped to do it justice. Thank you.

Marja,
Hi, and thank you!!

Sumana,
Thanks so much!!

Kim,
It made me realize what creatures, great and small, are alive in the night. Thank you.

Brendan,
I agree. What puts us above everything else? Thanks for commenting here. I appreciate it.

Anthony Duce said...

Enjoyed very much.. Am now lost in related thoughts..

Yvonne Osborne said...

Hi Tony,
Cloudy days such as this can mire us down. Thanks, always, for commenting.

Gillena Cox said...

The longing and the sadness is heartfelt. Some provocative images here entwined also.
"footprints dissolve like a good man’s intent."

Muchđź’–love

Myrna R. said...

What a powerful write. I wish more people could read this. It is beautiful in its truth, and so, so sad.

Khaya Ronkainen said...

Oh wow, your poem is surreal. "Things creep up in the night" gave me shivers.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Khaya,
Thank you!

Myrna,
What writers want more than anything is to be read. What we fear the most is to be read. Thank you for reading and giving feedback.

Gillena,
Thanks!

Old Egg said...

Yes, this is a wonderful poem. We would like the world to stay the same so long as it doesn't interfere with our lives even though we are a greedy selfish people that think everything is expendable so long as we can make a profit.

Carrie Van Horn said...

Love this Yvonne! Wistful and beautiful!

purplepeninportland.com said...

Wonderful poem, Yvonne! Such yearning comes through.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Old Egg,
Hi there....yeah, "don't take a piece of my pie!" Thanks for commenting.

Carrie,
Thank you so much!!

Sara,
Hi,
Thank you. So nice to see you!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Sara...also I tried to post a comment on your site but WordPress was giving me hiccups.