The first hint is a flurry of feathers,
stitches from embroidered stars.
A single flake falls, sparkles in the night,
where a pale moon shivers.
Morning. All that remains of the fluttering
is a single black feather on white –
a blackbird’s shadow taken flight.
Kim M. Russell, 11th December 2023
Image by Risto Kokkonen on Unsplash
It’s the final Quadrille Monday of the year at the dVerse Poets Pub and Björn has us writing poems of forty-four words that include the word ‘snow’.
writing in north norfolk 
I love how you tied it to the black feather, the contrast between that and the flurry is really good.
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Thanks Björn.
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Beautiful, Kim. That black feather in contrast to the whiteness of snow.
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Thank you, LIll!
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You know it’s cold when the “pale moon shivers.” Wonderful how the bird feather paints the snow. Love the image you chose, with the tree trunks acting as a frame.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re very welcome.
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Enjoyed the development of the metaphor of snow as feathers rounding off beautifully with the visual contrast of black on white and topped off with the absolutely brilliant “a blackbird’s shadow taken flight”! Beautiful, Kim.
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Thanks so much for your perceptive appreciation, Dora.
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What a fresh look at a first snow, Kim…and i like the contrast of the black feather too!
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Love the image of the moon shivering!
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Thank you Kim!
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This little poem is so tight. Very nicely done.
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Thank you!
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Adore that last line Kim!
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Thank you Kim!
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What a beautiful sight it was. Love specially the first part, setting it up for a memorable first snow.
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Thank you, Grace!
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Beautiful imagery in this Kim ❤️
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❤
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I love how the whole poem seems to take on that flurry of the blackbird. I can just imagine him flitting about in the nippy air. And off he goes. Really lovely writing.
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Thanks so much Dianne!
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Lovely quadrille.
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Thankhyou, Maria!
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A great opening line. Beautifully done, Kim.
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Thank you, Dwight!
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Luv your magical snowfall
Much♡love
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Thanks Gillena, with much love!
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Blackbird’s shadow in palest moonlight. Perfect winter imagery, Kim! WOWZA GOOD STUFF. Thanks
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Oh I love this Kim, so clever, I appreciate poetry where I can read messages behind the words – my imagination is alive with this one 💞Suzanne
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Many thanks, Suzanne!
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This is such a light, delicate poem, much like soft snow flurries. Simply beautiful.
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Thank you kindly, Freya!
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How very enchanting a piece this is, Kim! ❤
Much love,
David
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Thank you, David!
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Kim, I love this!! Especially the last three lines.
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Thank you, Yvonne!
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A lovely quadrille, you captured snowfall quite delightfully.
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Thank you, Helen!
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This is beautiful, Kim. I love the black against white, the calm after the flurry. Just lovely!
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Thank you, Dale!
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You’re welcome!
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Lovely! The blackbird is as much a symbol of winter as the robin.
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Thanks Jane!
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xx
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Loved the black and white contrast and how you play with it, Kim
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Thank you!
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I love this poem! Beautifully written.
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Many thanks!
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Beautiful. Definitely captured the peace of first snow. 😊
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Thank you! ❤
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Gorgeous. It brings to mind the crows who make their home in trees on the hill behind my home. Especially enjoyed these lines:
“a flurry of feathers,
stitches from embroidered stars.”
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Thank you, Melissa, and a Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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Thank you, Kim! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!🙏🏻❤️
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