A Harsh Melody

WINTER’S SONG

Like a crazed banshee, the bitter wind moaned,
while snow coated limbs until the trees groaned,
branches thrashed windows in cacophony —
a harsh melody that winter intoned.

9/8/94 Phyllis DeWitt VanVleck

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Whoops!

WINTER WOE

Today it’s very cold outside
Drippy nose
Frozen toes
Weather’s right for a nice sled ride
Cough and wheeze
Great big sneeze
Snow-fun beckoned, and so I tried
Slipped and fell
Painful yell
Bruised my body and my pride
Home in bed
Bandaged head
Tomorrow I will stay inside

1/4/90 Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

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Fall’s Masterpiece

HAIKU

Fall’s great masterpiece

wiped from nature’s huge canvas

winter’s quick cold hand

3/16/90 Phyllis VanVleck

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That tired old scarecrow

GARDEN GUARDIAN

Tired old scarecrow, tattered and torn
Looking shabby and quite forlorn
His clothes are ripped from summer wind
Gaping where they once were pinned

Months ago, in summer sun
He proved his worth with job well done
While flapping arms in disarray
He made the crows stay well away

But now birds perch upon his hat
And snow piles high to smash it flat
He’s seen to shiver more and more
Freezing to his very core

We’ll bring him in where it is warm
Where he’ll avoid the winter storm
I’ll fill his sleeves and sew his rips
Of course I’ll repaint eyes and lips

And when the winter weather’s gone
Just as birds break into song
He’ll take his place as garden guard
And keep the crows out of the yard

11/14/04 Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

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A Haiku for winter

                      HAIKU

 

                      Season’s cover-up

 

                           new white blankets fell last night

 

                                earth sleeps in cold robes

 

 

9/2/06                    Phyllis DeWitt

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That time of year again

            WINTER

 

Fierce wind is harsh upon the land . . . .

new snow is cold and deep,

the willows sway and weep.

September’s passed the torch, as planned . . . .

frost atop frozen ground,

as earth sleeps without sound,

for winter now assumes command.

 

9/9/04         Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

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A frosty hand rattled my door

     WINTER’S ARRIVAL

 

Winter stretched forth a frosty hand

            Last night it rattled my door

Hills now sleep under ermine robes

            As does the forest floor

Filigree patterns frost my panes

            With beautiful white fronds

Icy mufflers hug river banks

            And small cattle ponds

Roofs lie snug under snowy coats

            Fence posts wear white berets

Icicle pendants hang from eaves

            Crystals, in the sun’s rays

Long snowy beards adorn my sills

            After the night’s snowfall

And drifts form miniature mountains

            Against my garden wall

Trees that once reached for sun

            Have branches hanging low

Their graceful lines quite beautiful

            Under the weight of snow

It’s winter’s awesome arrival

            Here to stay awhile

Until nature keeps its promise

            Of spring’s big warm-up smile

 

11/4/88       Phyllis DeWitt VanVleck

 

1’st … Arkansas NPD 1996

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