Word-bound, I watch the coming winter
haunt the garden, eager to paint it silver.
I count the rags of blue sky overhead,
topped with grumbling thunderheads,
savour the smell of rich black earth, the gleam
of gold and lemon, not quite drowning out the green.
Trees drip with limpid air this green-gold morning
like words from my poetic pen, a warning
to the spectre of winter that, whatever his palette,
I will find a hint of green to thwart the manic.
Kim M. Russell, 2nd November 2020
My response to earthweal weekly challenge: Green Mind, Mad World, also linked to dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night
Brendan says, for this week’s challenge, he thought it wise to stay humble and close to the earth while the United (really?) States descends into election-day madness. At the same time, here in the United (not so sure about that) Kingdom, we are heading for another national lockdown.
While the mad orange dictator plans to endanger the planet even more by taking the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord on Nov. 4 and attempting to rip up the Endangered Species Act, we are trying to stay sane by writing about the things that steady and balance our minds and how we keep it green.
writing in north norfolk 
A worthwhile exercise and so deftly done, Kim! I love your closing lines: whatever madness we are faced with, we find a way through it.
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I hope so, Ingrid, The thought of another lockdown is already playing with my head – I haven’t really left the house much at all since March, except for a week with my daughter. And then there’s tomorrow’s US election,…
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Yes, these are crazy times. My dad was supposed to be visiting but there’s no chance at the moment. I hope he doesn’t have to spend Christmas alone!
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I understand, Ingrid. It’s my daughter’s fortieth birthday on 22nd November and she was hoping to have a little break, but that’s not going to happen now. I was hoping to see them before Christmas, but that will be probably go out the window too. I can’t wait for this year to be over.
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Political issues are sad and maddening. However, your poem brings peace and solitude through nature. God must have known we would need words like yours brought forth from creation. Nice job!
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Thank you so much!
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Kim I love everything about this! The silver-painted garden, the gold and lemons, that autumnal smell, and of course the green!
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Thanks Eric!
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What a beautiful poem. Your words weave quite a spell.
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Thank you, Suzanne. I just hope the spell works!
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You’ve created a peaceful oasis amid the madness. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe. I did feel calm while writing it.
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Yes you calmed us all with this. The rich detail so warms us – the “savour” and “gleam” of a “green-gold morning” — we go forth into the “manic” holding this song close. Great job, Kim. (And PS, a fine compression of my post in your recap!) – Brendan
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Thank you, Brendan!
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Yes, finding that hint of green is what saves us. I loved this poem.
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Thank you, Sherry.
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That’s beautifully done, Kim – perfectly balanced, and great word choices. Lovely
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Thanks muchly, Sarah.😊
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Wonderful work, KR. Even though we’re currently down to our last blade of green here in northern Vermont, this resident of the allegedly United States thoroughly enjoyed the pasis you so masterfully provided for us here. Salute.
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oasis, not pasis
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I’m virtually sending you some of the green that still lingers in our garden – mostly willow leaves – the curly variety.
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This is starkly beautiful Kim.
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Thank you so much, Linda.
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WOW. Such stunning and startling images you create. This is beautiful.
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Thank you kindly, Lucy!
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“I will find a hint of green” – This fervent declaration has such an awakening energy after the slow and thoughtful contemplation of cloud, sky, “black earth” and “limpid sky”. Beautiful, Kim.
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Thank you, Dora. I’m lucky to still have plenty of green in the grande. The willow stays green much longer than the other trees. I have also
had the company of two hen pheasants this morning – oh, they’ve just flown away I think one of our cats just crept up on them.
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Idyllic! 🙂
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You have captured the strange mood of living in lockdown, this strange November…
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Thank you, Bjorn.
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The green never really goes away. Even in the midst of winter there is green. Hang on, Kim, you’ll make it through to spring 🙂
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Thank you, Jane. You are right, there is green everywhere, in holly and mistletoe leaves, early shoots, nettles… You just have to look for it.
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It takes so long for the summer flowers to die back that the spring ones are almost ready to flower before they’ve gone.
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I have written several poems about the Green over the years; one was titled CHLOROPUSCLE. I enjoyed your couplets and your message of defiance.
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Thanks Glenn.
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“Trees drip with limpid air this green-gold morning” such a rich image, Kim. You’re right, we need to keep things green in our spirits, despite the madness of the shadow that twirls about us.
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As Van Morrison and Kermit sang, ‘It’s not easy being green’.
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This is lovely and peaceful, even with the ghost of winter. I like the appeal to the senses, and the final couplet
to the spectre of winter that, whatever his palette,
I will find a hint of green to thwart the manic.
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Thank you, Merril. As usual, our willow is the last tree in the garden to lose its colour and it’s clinging on to its leaves. It looks sad when it’s naked.
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Poor willow! Despite all the leaves on the ground, we still have lots of leaves on our trees, though decidedly barer than a few days ago.
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Fantastic imagery, as usual. 🙂 My favorite part is the metaphor of “rags of blue sky” among the thunderheads.
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Thank you, Jenna!
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I LOVE this, Kim! To find just a hint of green in the midst of winter….to thwart the manic. For me…..the Christmas season (not days, weeks, but a season) wards off the scene of skeleton trees outside my window. I love the Christmas tree….its ornaments are memories for me. The tiny white lights….the candles and garlands round the house….the collection of nutcrackers scattered in all the rooms. That for me thwarts the winter malaise and cold. Warms the heart for me. Love your imagery here…grumbling thunderheads and gleams of gold and lemon. Really enjoyed this one, Kim!
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Thank you so much, Lill. I’m looking forward to our little Christmas tree this year.
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I equate a hint of green to a breath of fresh air, and those of us in the U.S. are certainly in need of that!!
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So true, Bev.
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Such color in this piece Kim. If you look for it, even in winter, you can find it… wrll written.
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Thank you, Rob.
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Love this especially; “Trees drip with limpid air this green-gold morning like words from my poetic pen, a warning to the spectre of winter,”… such gorgeous palette of colour in this one, Kim 💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa. It’s not easy being green.
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Thank you for the calm, Kim!
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It’s what the doctor ordered!
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😊
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to the spectre of winter that, whatever his palette,
I will find a hint of green …… yes!
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Always.
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The poetic pen will always be a force to be reckoned with. I resonate with this poem and your thoughts on “Greening the mind.” We all live in uncertain times and even now that the election is over it still feels that way. But writing helps me.
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Writing is a lifeline.
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Ah, yes …. that snippet of green. Metaphor for so much.
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😊
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to the spectre of winter that, whatever his palette,
I will find a hint of green to thwart the manic.
A classic close Kim. Yes, one would like greenery to accord a balance to the sterile white!
Hank
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Thanks Hank!
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