What happened to winter snow,
hoary patterns on windows,
frozen ponds to skate on,
icicles hanging from the gutter?
Sun worshippers may think it doesn’t matter
and wonder why we mutter
at unseasonal weather,
unconcerned that snowdrops
and daffodils bloom early,
blackthorn roots are purply
and willow tops froth with yellowy green.
Is it the residue of fumy factories and mines,
dirty words scribbled on a crystal sky,
thawing the season before it’s even begun?
Is it the greed and waste of millions
that has confused and angered Mother Earth,
the one who nurtured us from birth?
I think it is.
Kim M. Russell, 18th March 2020
My response to Poets and Storytellers United Weekly Scribblings #11: Hypophora and all that
This week Sanaa has brought us a challenging prompt of questions and answers in an exploration of hypophora, a figure of speech similar to a rhetorical question, in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to it, with the main purpose of rousing the reader’s curiosity. She says that a well-timed pause in hypophora creates a heightened effect as well as interest.
Sanaa explains that the question or questions in a hypophora are often used to set up a long answer, which is basically a point that the speaker wishes to make. She has given us examples, one by Truman Capote entitled ‘A Christmas Memory’, and an excerpt from Pablo Neruda’s Book of Questions.
Our challenge today is to write poetry or prose using hypophora.
writing in north norfolk 
This is incredibly evocative, Kim! 💝 You raise a significant amount of awareness with questions like; “Is it the residue of fumy factories and mines, dirty words scribbled on a crystal sky, thawing the season before it’s even begun?” I love the solemn confirmation at the end. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt! 😍
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Thank you, Sanaa, for your appreciation and for a great prompt. 😊
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The absolute and sufficient answer – more’s the pity.
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😓
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We will miss winter. The circle of seasons has a gaping hole. (K)
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That’s so true, Kerfe.
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And try as we might, we won’t be able to keep our eyes closed forever… Well illustrated, KR! Salute.
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Thank you, Ron!
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Yes yes and yes, Unarguable. We have done it to ourselves
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Thanks Rall.
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Humankind have always been the most dangerous creature on Earth. I can imagine one day our presence will no longer be required!
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Me too!
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I think Mother Nature has reached the last straw. Beautiful writing
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Thank you, Susie.
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Every time a random person comments on how wonderful it is that we had a mild winter, I have to remember to keep the grimness out of my smile as I go on my way. I don’t understand how people can be so short-sighted.
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Me neither, Rommy.
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Those greedy are lamenting now. Tax cuts for the rich, lower budgets for civilization’s needs. Several of our Congress’men’ and Senators sold high just before the market tanked, big investments. Ford Motors here has shut down but has switched to making ventilators for the COVID 19 victims. They didn’t take bailout money before either. I used to work for them.
Thse are questions that deserve answers.
..
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I should share your poem with a friend of mine in Pennsylvania. When we talked the other day, she told me that her area of the state received exactly one inch of snow all winter. What happened to the snow, indeed?
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We had none at all this year!
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