Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Winter (the season) (08/13/09)
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TITLE: Old Man Winter | Previous Challenge Entry
By Verna Cole Mitchell
08/18/09 -
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Through autumn’s bare-limbed trees,
He paints the blue sky gray again
And instigates a freeze.
He pounds the earth with shards of ice
And stencils in sharp sleet.
With freezing rain he forms a glaze
On every road and street.
He rules the world with gusty winds;
No balmy breezes blow,
For he controls the atmosphere
With crystal tears and snow.
He toils to hide the warmth of sun
And brings night-dark to day.
His chill drives birds to leave their homes
And seek warmth far away.
When people dare to venture out,
Of comfort he disposes.
From palette in his stiff back pack,
He reddens cheeks and noses.
He sends a shiver to their bones,
Then numbs their hands and feet,
And doesn’t stop his torment till
Their misery’s complete
He withers flowers that have dared
To last beyond the fall
With squalls and blizzards he’s devised
To decimate them all.
I’m wise to Old Man Winter’s plans,
His vengeful aspirations.
I will not let him bother me
With frigid machinations.
He cannot keep from me the glow
Of lamp and fireside,
Nor darken light where in my heart
My Dear Lord does abide.
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"From palette in his stiff back pack,
He reddens cheeks and noses."
I can visualize Old Man Winter searching for the perfect red for little boys' cheeks and noses. I always loved kissing my young sons' cheeks when they came in from playing in the snow. Old Man Winter was a meticulous artist, with just the right icy blues and the silver grays and snow whites. Your poem is perfect in meter and rhyme and I wish I could see it illustrated and in a chilren's book. So beautiful in every way!!
He rules the world with gusty winds;
No balmy breezes blow,
For he controls the atmosphere
With crystal tears and snow.
Brrr...I can almost feel the cold now! So happy I can look out my window and warm myself back up with summer's sun. Awesome and accurate descriptions!
A winner, I'm sure.
Mona
I especially like the last two stanzas: your rhyme of aspirations/machinations, and the beautiful message in the last verse.
~Cathy~
Such a joy and blessing to read your poetry, Verna.
Congrats on your placing, dear friend!