Poetry Friday: Winter Is Coming

Poetry friends, I'm feeling frightened, exhausted, and defeated by the pandemic. I live in central Illinois, where we've set new case records everyday for the last three days at 12,000 plus cases per day. Our specific metropolitan has the 11th highest case count in the nation. My daughter is a Covid ICU nurse who has to deal with the horrific reality of this situation every single day. Our governor has begged us to wear masks, social distance, and not gather in large groups. He's trying like hell to keep our economy open. So many people ignore his pleas. These people claim to be liberty loving Americans- liberty loving Americans who refuse to do the most patriotic thing they could do- follow the few simple steps that have proven to lower case counts and save lives. Our healthcare system is overwhelmed, and because of that, we've been warned that if things do not begin to turn around in the next few days, we will be under a state mandated shutdown again. I hate this for our local businesses (especially during this time of the year), but I also absolutely see the necessity to do it. It just saddens me to no end that so many people won't do what they can to protect their fellow Americans.

Covid cases rise

Hospital beds dwindle

Winter is coming

And now for some hope....

Scientists working

Clinical trial success 

Vaccine on the way

This week's Poetry Friday round up is hosted by Robyn at Life On The Deckle Edge Blog. Be sure to click over to savor all of this week's poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: Please Vote

I voted early in-person at our county building a few weeks ago. They did temperature checks at the door, masks were required, and there was plenty of room to safely social distance. I've never been in such a hurry to cast a ballot in my life! I seriously shook as I filled it out. I felt the enormity of what I was doing. I prayed that, unlike four years ago, my candidate would prevail. I also prayed that somehow, our country could begin healing. If you haven't already voted in-person or mailed in a ballot, I beg of you to vote. Please do not sit this out. Please make your voice heard. Please.

Four long painful years

The wait is finally over

How will it turn out?

Biting nails, pacing,

Belly full of butterflies

Election night wait.

They say he'll win big

They said the same about her

This time, please be right.

This week's Poetry Friday host is Linda at Teacher Dance blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

Potry Friday: Apple Haiku

Welcome to Poetry Friday! As I was mulling over what I might post this week, my granddaughter showed me her apple and exclaimed, "Look! It has polka-dots!" Well, of course that line provided this week's inspiration.

Rosy red ripened 

Deliciously tasty tart 

Autumn polka-dots

This week's round up is hosted by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: Fall Haiku

Hello my poetry friends! Welcome to Poetry Friday. We've had lots of wind loosening leaves from our trees, and that is what inspired this week's haiku.

Autumn winds whipping

Leaves billowing, blanketing

Snuggling cold ground

Autumn winds whipping

Balding trees loosing their coats 

Branches shivering

This week's round up is hosted by Janice at Salt City Verse. Be sure to stop by to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: Hello Again, Porch Haiku, and Poetry Fest

Hello again, poetry friends. Welcome to Poetry Friday. It's been a while. Covid has taken away so much, and for many months, it also took away my desire to write anything. But, I'm determined to dip my feather back into the inkwell (or tap a few keys on the keyboard) and get back at it.

The above photo is of my front porch. I love fall! I wish the entire year could be fall! The small pumpkins and gourds came from our garden, and we purchased the flowers and sign from our local Farmer's Market. Here's my little front porch fall haiku. 

Popping from planters

Mums Marigolds in full bloom

Happy Fall Y'all!

This week I want to share something else writing-related that is bringing me joy. My vlog partner, Heidi Bee Roemer, is hosting Poetry Fest. What is Poetry Fest you ask? For the entire month of October, Heidi is posting one STEM/STEAM poem everyday on social media. Heidi wanted to use this opportunity to promote other authors and their newest books as well. To that end, she is pairing each of those poems with a nonfiction book on the same topic. You can follow Heidi's Poetry Fest on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SteamPoweredPoetryVideosForKthrough8   and https://www.facebook.com/heidi.roemer.90 . You can also follow along on twitter at https://twitter.com/poetweet4 and https://twitter.com/steampoweredpo1 .

Thank you for stopping by. I've missed you all!

Wee Words For Wee Ones Blog is hosting this week's round up. Be sure to click over to savor all of this week's poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: Spring Welcome

Hello, dear poetry friends, and welcome to Poetry Friday. This week's round up is hosted by Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone. 

I've thought of you often and read many of your posts over the last month. Unfortunately, I've struggled mightily to create my own poetry these last several weeks. With everything going on, I can't seem to find the right few words in the right order. I am writing in my journal. It's helping me to process my feelings and deal with this very new world we're living in. 

We have a robin nesting in the corner of our front porch. So, today I'm sharing the poem, Spring Welcome, from Deborah Rudell's collection, A WHIFF OF PINE, A HINT OF SKUNK: A FOREST OF POEMS.

SPRING WELCOME

A million arms in woody sleeves

wave a zillion brand-new leaves,

inviting wrens to be their guests,

the orioles to build their nests,

and calling all the chickadees

to stay and raise their families.

Deborah's book introduces several forest animals and their happenings throughout the four seasons. The poems are beautifully crafted and paired with Joan Rankin's whimsical illustrations. 

I know some parts of the country are still seeing a bit of snow, but hopefully, we'll all be enjoying beautiful spring weather soon! Thanks for stopping by. 

Poetry Friday: Time Change

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Rebecca at Sloth Reads blog. Be sure to click over to read all of this week's poetry goodness.

Saturday evening, before most of us climb into bed, we'll be springing our clocks forward. Yes, this means more daylight, but as for Sunday morning, it will mean less sleep. This dilemma inspired this week's poem.

Time Change

Time to spring
ahead one hour.
But when I wake,
I'll feel quite sour.

Thou there's more light
when the clock leaps,
I really just want 
more time to sleep!

Copyright March 5, 2019 Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Speaking of clocks, we have a new vlog on the topic of clocks and calendars posted over at STEAM Powered Poetry. Be sure to check it out.

For those of you who subscribe, the Poetry Friday article so many of you graciously helped with, is in this month's issue of Children's Book Insider. In the article side bar, I linked to the blogs of everyone who offered contributions. My eternal gratitude and thanks to all of you.

Poetry Friday: Mailbox Goodies and Thank you

Welcome to Poetry Friday! Linda is hosting this week's round up. Click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness. Well, I meant this post to be for last week, but then I forgot to link up. So, on this Valentine's Day, I share some more mailbox love and gratitude.


From Robert

Diane

...Robyn

Thank you for brightening these cold, dank, dreary days with the beauty and hope of your poetry. Every word is a treasure.

I also want to thank each and every one of you who answered questions and contributed to my Poetry Friday article for Children's Book Insider. Because of word count restrictions, I wasn't able to use every quote from every contributor, but our community was very well represented. The article includes a side bar with links to all contributor's blogs. For those of you that subscribe, the article will run in the March issue. 

I'm in the midst of another wfh book series with a tight deadline. I may not be able to post for the rest of February, but I will try to visit your blogs as much as possible, and I plan to be back in March. 

Poetry Friday: Blown Engines, Postcards, and Gratitude

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Sally Murphy. Sally shares an opportunity for us to help with  the fire relief effort in Australia via the #authorsforfireys auction happening on Twitter. She also shares what she's been reading. Click over to read her post and to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

Revvv...Click...Spit...Sputter

Knocking...Knocking...nothing left

Engine end of life

Ugh! Yes, unfortunately, we had to begin the new year with an unexpected new car expense. As yucky as that is, I'm grateful my husband was close to home and not stranded in the middle of nowhere when things went south. We live in the country, and hubby is famous for not carrying his phone. I'm also grateful that we were in the financial position to be able to buy a replacement. Last but not least, I'm grateful for the sunshine that arrived in mailbox this week in the form of postcards from Poetry Friday friends. Linda and Irene, thank you for the lovely words and pictures you shared. They were a huge bright spot in my week!

Now I need to ask for your help. I'm writing an article about Poetry Fridays and our little community for Children's Book Insider. I've been around for a few years, but I don't really know who originally spearheaded it and how it got started. Would any of you be willing to share some Poetry Friday history with me? Also, I would love to hear any little personal anecdotes from your time in the community (connections, friendships, growth, opportunity). If you would like to contribute, please email me at kimberlyhutmacher at gmail dot com. I'm looking forward to chatting with you and celebrating our poetry family.

One last thing! Submissions for this year's poetry video contest at STEAM Powered Poetry are opening soon. If you know of anyone you think might be interested, please feel free to pass along the contest info. Thank you!