2012-01-12 Winter

Winter Renga at Perkins, 48th & O st, Lincoln, NE

January 8, 2012, Lincoln, NE

Each stanza © by the poet who composed it, 2012, Lincoln, NE.

Larry Reznicek (LR) Charlene Neeley (CN), Mary K Stillwell (MS), Sarah Farichild (SF), and Mark Fairchild (MF)

At last the leaves separate

from their parent tree fall fallow beneath,

or fly far away towards bright winter. - © LR (1)

tumbling over rocks it sings

to all the inhabitants of the forest - © CN (2)

Spring is coming, here it comes

Crocus bulbs are itching underground

dreaming of bloom after the last snow. - © MS (3)

Confused by warm winter days

irises poke out their tips. - © SF (4)

Leaking water faucet

Builds back yard glaciers

threatening premature Irises - © MF (5)

that wisely hesitate

waiting for the birth pangs of true spring - © LR (6)

a spring that will probably

elude us after this strange winter,

if we can call this winter. - © CN (7)

But who knows what January

will bring. Snow! Snow! Cold winds. - © MS (8)

Drifts past the windows

blowing through long winter nights

into quilt wrapped dreams. - © SF (9)

Cats stalking lap-warm nests

and blinding hot space heaters - © MF (10)

Kittens sprawled like tiger rugs

old cats curled like drying leaves

twitching muscles loose as if sleep-pouncing mattered - © LR (11)

We follow suit, climbing under quilts

with our books and to dream - © CN (12)

half-hibernating

through the cold, half-sleep walking

through work and chores - © SF (13)

Cold winds and early dark

stings which make the winter dance - © MF (14)

sometimes a waltz, a minuet, or rave

the wind salts the dark

the moon's thin slice ripens in space - © LR (15)

The stars glide in patterns

writing messages in secret code - © CN (16)

erased by sunlight

slipping over the border

of shadow and sight - © SF (17)

The memory of dreams

and fire lit focus by candle light. - © MF (18)