Poetry Friday - Be Bold!

 

Poetry Friday - For our new year - 2026

               It's Poetry Friday, and Catherine Flynn is hosting HERE on her website,  Reading to the Core!  She shares her poem that one can use as a guide for 2026, lovely to ponder as we start living the year! 

            Thanks for hosting, Catherine!

             I've been thinking about the impact one person can have on lives near and lives far, something that nudged me as I've had a lot of time recently with my grandchildren, Carter, who lives far away, but was here during the holidays, then Ingrid and Imogene who live near, and during "their" vacations, have helped me so much managing the bookstore's donations. It's been a busy time for everything, but donations continue arrive, and my usual volunteers are busy with their own holidays and families. 

          Margaret Mead's words stay with me: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." Have the girls and I changed the world? No, yet I imagine they might later in their lives. However, they did change the bookstore's inventory, always needed. 

          Recently, I read a folk story about the robin. Perhaps you know it, but it is new to me. It appears to have some variations if you search for it.

 

         A Tale of Old

                      (to be so bold)

 

Praise this somber feathered friend 

winging home in dark of night.

 

A father and son shivered in their bedding,

fire’s embers weakening as they slept.

Robin noticed its light subsiding,

flew to see what could be kept.

Its fluttering wings returned fire to life, 

adding warmth to the strangers’ beds.

In the deed, it scorched its chest

earning its name, Robin Redbreast. 

                       Linda Baie ©

Stick Stock photos by Vecteezy

Poetry Friday - Celebrating!

               It's Poetry Friday, and Michelle Kogan is hosting HERE on her website, beautiful More Art for All!  She's sharing art from an exhibit by Yoko Ono at the MCA-Chicago, plus adding a poem reflection AND more poems and music, by John Lennon, of course! All awesome! Thanks for hosting, Michelle!

      Time to continue celebrations, whatever you have begun, or to prepare for what's next! 

      I certainly won't ignore the news where darkness is thrown over something every day. Those in power continue to dismantle organizations that have helped people in need all over the world. A short list includes weather science, Americans' health and education, and instilling fear in thousands who have been a great part of making America special. They are missing something very special: doing good for others, for our future. I fight for what I know is right in any way I can.  

Our Next Celebration

 

Our hope lies just ahead–

Praise the sunshiny minutes.

We’ll start the celebrations 

This coming Solstice morn.

 

Each day will linger longer

Each week, then somewhat stronger,

When sunshine and the mail,

Bring fun-shine that’s newborn!

 

No matter if it snows,

Inside, we’ll hip hooray,

For seed catalogs that appear

Show winter’s nearly worn!

 

Linda Baie ©

Happy Holidays!

🎄🎅🎁🌟❄️🦌🔔☃️🕎✡️✨🕯️🕯️🌽🥥🍌

Winter Solstice Stock photos by Vecteezy

Poetry Friday - Dreaming?

              It's Poetry Friday, and Linda Mitchell  is hosting HERE on her website, A Word Edgewise, with an endearing holiday mash-up for our celebrations! I can hear the bells ringing, Linda!  Thanks for hosting.

     Just a week ago, looking out my back window to the green space, I can imagine the trees whispering, "Hurrah, it's really snowing!" to each other. Sadly, it was a boon, yet it hasn't lasted. We are back to the fifties, per weather people, even 60, for the next week at least. However, going through a box of older holiday books and some clippings, I found an older poem that fits in my imagination anyway. I know from watching the news, this is true for many of you, hoping it isn't too bad, but simply wonderful!

      I cannot find much about Annabel Armour, the poet, except a few used books of her poetry on sites like AbeBooks, sadly not the bookstore where I volunteer. One is Little Shepherd, a children's picture book illustrated by Bill and Bernard Martin, which appears in several sites, published in 1951. Evidently, she wrote and published in the mid-twentieth century.  I'll keep looking!

                                 

          Do you have a favorite holiday book? I seem to have many, but one my own children returned to again and again is Star Mother's Youngest Child by Louisa Moeri and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

      And, a fond memory is of a parent who came into the classroom each year I had his daughters to read Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, by Eric Kimmel, and also illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

NOT Ready to Leave!

  It's Poetry Friday, and Irene Latham is hosting HERE on her website, Live Your Poem! She's sharing various news, a reminder of a poetry call, and two spectacular poems about birds. Don't miss visiting! And, thanks for hosting, Irene. 

                                                                

        I often visit the cemetery where my husband is, have become familiar with the flora and fauna, and it feels like a haven for all there, and for those, like me, who visit and find memories and solace. It's been twelve years, and I've watched flowers grow and bloom, trees bring new green, then new color, then fill the grounds with crunch as I walk. But one, not a very old tree, an oak, does not lose its leaves. They remain, and were there this week when I went. And so I wrote. . . 

No, Not Leaving! 

 

When other trees are bare,

Their leaves have gone to ground.

They don our autumn’s name of fall,

Swirling round and round.

Yet oak leaves dilly-dally 

Till spring youngsters take their place.

They wish to stretch life longer.

Their “leave-ing’s” sad to face.

 

Linda Baie ©

          If you wish to know the scientific explanation of this intriguing action by both oak and beech trees, "this phenomenon of deciduous leaves persisting past the end of the growing season called “marcescence”, go HERE to The International Oak Society. 

         And, I hope you saw that beautiful full "cold" moon Thursday night! Awesome! 

            

The Way It Is - Poetry Friday

 It's Poetry Friday, and Buffy Silverman is hosting HERE on her website! This time, Buffy's interviewing Suzy Levinson, of Animals in Pants fame, about Suzy's newest book, Dinos That Drive. Be sure to check it out!

           My recent days have made me thankful for so much, from nearby and far away family and friends. I was sorry not to be able to connect with most of you who were here at NCTE, but so glad that the weather held for everyone! There was no snow, which may come this weekend, and so needed. We've only had a bit of rain in the past couple of months and it's stayed mostly in the fifties - quite unusual for us in Denver. The mountains are in dire need. They usually have many come in for this long holiday weekend, but few resorts have opened. SOON?

            I wrote a poem for all of you who have prepared for or helped with Thanksgiving dinner. I share the prep now with my daughter and son-in-law, but I remember other times, with family, busy, busy!

The Way It Is

Slice, mix, boil, toil

Stir, peel, shake, bake

Shell, carve, baste, taste

Melt, pour, dip, sip

A toast to you this special day!

          My attitude:

          Gratitude!  

Linda Baie ©