March Musings '19: Snow Baby on Skis

Off they went to a winter wonderland vacation. Beautiful, sun-kissed Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was waiting for them. Skis were packed-even the tiniest skis only meant for a twenty-one-year-old toddler. 

I fell in love with the original photo of this winter scene so I digitized it and added a title.

I marvelled at the wonder of nature, the pristine beauty of fresh snow, a sharp contrast to dirty snow or rain-washed snow slush. Even if you are not a fan of winter, you might be inclined to change your mind when viewing these vacation photos. 

The spectacular mountain views were welcoming

in each scene.

It was as if Mother Nature painted a landscape in brilliant white with a blue backdrop. 

Each photo made winter so inviting.

Thinking about my grandbaby in Jackson Hole led me to explore snow-themed poetry for writing models. When I found the following poem, A Child's Guide to Etiquette, by Chris Forhan (from No. 177, Summer 2006), I knew it was a just right one. You may agree.

Detail of Works Progress Administration's: "January: A Year of Good Reading" Poster

Snow is a hat worn by mountains, the tallest of which do not remove the hat in summer.

Sunlight settles like a shawl upon the hills and dewy berry fields.

The sun is not a wag or hail-fellow-well-met. It does not loaf or shirk.

It keeps it's face funeral-ready, as you should.

Away you go in the car. Father and Mother. Puff and Baby Sally.

Away you go into the Country. Spot and Jane.

Will I use this poem as a mentor poem? Perhaps, I will write a poem for my grandbaby, but for now I think I will just keep looking at the beauty of the western mountains set in winter sunshine and dream.

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Day 18 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

Reflect in the Stillness of March - #sol19/Day11

This weekend daylight saving time brought another layer of light to winter days and a special event to add to my #Twitter calendar. Are you ready to celebrate #NationalNappingDay today, the Monday after daylight saving time? While there is no time for me to nap, I thought I would write.

As March briskly marched in

Time bowed its head.

Winter saluted.

Reflection paused.

All launched their campaigns:

Winter lingered.

Time fidgeted.

Reflection paused.

March held on tight

To Winter's grasp.

Then,

Daylight Saving Time arrived.

Spring planned

Its resurrection.

©CV, 2019

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I am joining Two Writing Teachers for the March Slice of Life Story Challenge.

-Day 11 of 31 days of writing-

The Architecture of Snow

This year, winter brought the din of shifting winds, leaving cold temperatures wherever it went. On Long Island, snow landed and departed in a parade of short-lived storms. Gray skies became the norm. Weather reports gained importance so I searched for one as I prepared to leave Long Island for a state education conference. My destination was an even colder spot. Listening to the meteorologist's report for Albany, NY, I braced myself for a new look at winter: dirty snow piles. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by an incredibly beautiful scene that could change anyone's mind about snow piles.  

Returning home, the gray sky and the rain washed much of what was left of the snow so I curled up reading Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem, The Snow-Storm. Struck by the word choice of the last line that evoked a vivid image, "The frolic architecture of the snow", I chose it for a strike line when writing a golden shovel poem.

entering upon the
quiet spot we frolic

pondering nature's architecture-

remnant piles of

hardened snowpacks glisten as the

visitors marvel at winter snow.
©CV, 2019

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-a slice of winter to ponder-

I now will join Two Writing Teachers for the March Slice of Life Story Challenge.

-Day 10 of 31 days of writing-