Happy Poetry Month!
April 1, 2011
Another round of winter—an April Fool’s snowstorm. Got me noodling with a poem this morning, the idea of winter being like a tough gun-slinger that won’t ride out of town quietly despite the new sheriff’s (spring’s) arrival.
In the spirit of National Poetry Month, I’m sharing my poem in progress:
Was a blusterin’ howlin’, swaggerin’ scowlin’ son-of-a-gun
cold-hearted bastard blow-hard makin’ my run
merciless howler blusterer, layin’ it thick,
rackin’ up records, old dog with new tricks.
Comes along blithely
a greenhorn to town,
try to run me off sideways,
this right lightsome clown,
raising the colors like I weren’t around.
Be a furious, fear-whippin’ pain-in-your-hide.
When I leave this town is for me to decide.
I’ll not play the fool, or fade off politely
A rip-roarin’ hullabaloo is more likely.
My nature’s my nature, and lest you forget,
the name’s Old Man Winter. I’m certain we’ve met.
—by Martha Calderaro
For lots of great poetic inspiration, go check out the Poetry Friday roundup hosted today by Amy LV at The Poem Farm.
April 1, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Hee hee! I wish that bumper stickers were bigger! This matches our Buffalo days with fat snowflakes on this first day of April! The swagger in this poem is the best. Thank you for sharing as you write – it is such a treat to watch people at work.
April 1, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Thanks, Amy. And congratulations to you on your year of poetry — truly inspiring!!
April 1, 2011 at 10:45 pm
You do like to play with words.
Big Fun
April 2, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Thanks, Doug!
April 2, 2011 at 1:48 pm
What fun! I’m shaking in my boots at Old Man Winter.
April 2, 2011 at 5:48 pm
April 2, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for sharing your WIP. I was driving through town last week thinking how incongruous the dark gray skies and windy cold was to the scattered color of azaleas and dogwoods. It needed a poem.
April 2, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Such a fickle time of year, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping in, Doraine.
April 4, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Old Man Winter won’t get out of our town either – Seattle is SO COLD TODAY – brrrrrrr – though our forsythia (in full bloom) doesn’t seem to be intimidated by all his howlin’ and scowlin’!
April 5, 2011 at 9:23 pm
May the force be with your forsythia! Ours hasn’t bloomed yet, but soon (I hope)!