December Walk

A very old cabin - once a home, now filled throughout with split wood!

A stone cottage I wish I lived in! -

(If you'd like to listen to me read this poem, cursor to the end of this post)

December Walk 

Our winding road threads its way
past time worn and tended,
stones fit snug, wood stacked and stored.

My son races through leaves brown and gray,
past red porch swing, past cattle grazing.

Finds frosted apples upon the ground,
golden cherry tomatoes, overripe,
eyes fast tumbling creek beyond barbwire.

He looks to me for a nod.  Doesn't get it.
It's December and the water is cold.

by Margaret Bednar, December 14, 2015

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Micro Poetry - In A Grain of Sand"  and write the poem in no more than 10 lines.  I would have liked to give a nod to the link to form poetry but went with free verse as I have very little time on my hands lately.  Homeschooling two children this year, and one of my daughters is in the musical "The Secret Garden" not to mention our most recent move to the NC mountains.  Our whole family will move to the NC mountains once the school year is finished.

We do make plenty of visits to our rental cottage and these images are along the quaint mountain road.  My 8 year old son always notices small, almost hidden things at times.  He even held up a "frosted" piece of grass for me to photograph.  It's not a grain of sand, but it's a blade of grass :)

"Pinch Me"

Pinch Me 

Tandem sheep amble pasture hill,
horses graze, and donkey eyes me
as potential threat.

The setting sun slides over this gang 

as I, only one out of breath, 

introduce myself.

Winding road, well worn barns,

crisp fresh air, the promise

of a bright star-lit night...  

All this without ruby slippers.

By Margaret Bednar, December 5, 2015

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Flash Fiction 55"   This past week I helped move my husband to our rental cottage in the NC mountains snuggled near the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We will join him once the kids are finished with their school year. Looking forward to calling this area home. Until then, we will be making a lot of road trips. 

"The Sideshow"

The Sideshow

I admire ballet hands:
relaxed, fluid, elongated -
adore Brunnhilde & Pavlova

yet my soprano & plies
provoke laughter;

arias & satin slippers, "curiosity".

This evening
a woman praised my elegant hands
and I didn't feel fat.

by Margaret Bednar, December 4, 2015

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Words Count with Mama Zen"  I selected from one of the images provided and kept it under a 60 word count.

I've been traveling visiting my son in NYC over Thanksgiving (all 6 children together = a happy mother) and moving part of our family to the North Carolina mountains - we will all join up after school ends in June.  I've missed posting to the poetry challenges - and am glad to spend a bit of time tonight playing along.