poem | wordsfromanneli

January 8, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 49 Comments

A Cold Midnight Visit

Moans and groans that chill the bones,

Through the window stream,

Scents of icy northern zones,

Invade the sleeper’s dreams.

Cold unwelcome guest descends

On the huddled shape,

Shivering, the ice-ghost bends,

Whispers in her nape.

Who has paid the icy fare,

On these crystal flows,

Hitching rides on Arctic air,

Following their nose?

Walruses and polar bear,

Wolves and caribou,

Send their scent along the air,

Via Manitou.

Think of us, they sadly moan,

Swirling round the room,

Dream of us, for now you’ve known

Our cold nights and our gloom.

December 29, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 23 Comments

Hawkeye

The row of trees provides a perch,

For birds of prey whose sharp eyes search,

The flooded fields that are so fine,

For waterfowl who wish to dine.

The foggy drippy days drag on,

I ate a mouse, but now it’s gone,

It’s not enough to fill the gap,

Too cold and wet to take a nap.

These leafless trees don’t camouflage,

No chilly bones do they assuage,

Perhaps a meal of ducks is best,

But snatching one will be a test.

The watchful drakes stand on alert

While others forage in the dirt,

“Don’t bother wasting energy,”

They tell the hawk, “We’ll just fly free.”

December 26, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 36 Comments

Being Three

I posted this a few years ago, but I still love it. My niece’s son and his friend are hesitating at the brink of the rink.

Keep in mind that when you’re three years old … things look different.

Are the bundles of clothing your mom makes you wear bulkier and heavier when you’re three?

Is that ice more slippery when you’re three?

Is it harder to “be a man” when you’re three?

Does it take more guts be brave in front of your buddy when you’re three?

Is that skating rink a mile wider when you’re three?

Do bruises from falling on the ice hurt more when you’re three?

Is life more exciting every minute of the day when you’re three?

Yes, yes, YES!

***

Being three and at the rink,

Is way more daunting than you think,

My buddy came to skate with me,

My fear I will not let him see.

The ice is gleaming, threatening,

And yet there’s adults beckoning,

Do they not realize how quick

A boy can fall? Oh, I feel sick.

I’m sure my buddy feels the same,

We’re scared and brave, but don’t feel shame,

If I fall down, it’s no big deal,

My buddy knows just how I feel.

We contemplate, but soon you’ll see,

How brave we are, though only three.

December 24, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 37 Comments

Crispin’s Christmas Dinner

Hi, I’m Crispin.

Time for my Christmas dinner. I know that little seed in front of me doesn’t look like much, but there are more in the jar.

I’m just saying grace before I eat this special meal. See how I put my hands together to say grace? I don’t care for turkey so I’ll stick to sunflower seeds for this Christmas. All you turkeys out there, you can thank me later.

I put my hands together

And say a little prayer

Of thanks that in this weather ,

My dinner’s always there.

I know that I could look for,

And find my food alone,

But no one needs to cook for

This lad; I’m on my own.

My dinner is a yummy seed,

I’ve many in the jar,

My hostess knows just what I need,

She’s never very far.

So merry Christmas holiday,

Be thankful for your lot,

Appreciate your meal today,

Be glad for what you’ve got.

Here I am eating my Christmas dinner. Seasons greetings to you all.

Anneli sends her apologies for the last few seconds of blur when she tried to zoom in and messed things up.

But in the Christmas spirit, I forgave her because, in the first part of the video, I think I look pretty cute.

December 12, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 42 Comments

Crispin ‘s Weather Forecast

Waking up, he checks the yard,

Feels like snow that freezes,

Not quite yet, but blowing hard,

Come the northern breezes.

News is written on the wood,

Writing looks Chinese,

Anyway it’s not so good,

Says it’s going to freeze.

No, oh no, oh no-no-no-o-o-o-o!

This is not good news,

Says right here that it will snow,

Time to start my chews.

Here’s some rope to line my bed.

Captain won’t be pleased.

Likes his ropes kept in good stead,

He’ll be really cheesed.

But the Cap’s retired now,

He won’t miss this rope,

If he used it anyhow,

He’d be quite a dope.

Watch me shred this fuzzy line,

Stuff it in my cheeks,

It will make that bed of mine,

Warm and soft for weeks.

Ropey fibre dries my throat,

Swallowing is pain,

But let’s see what’s in this tote,

Tub has filled with rain.

Watch this clip and see my feet,

See my special toes?

Talent like this can’t be beat,

Every squirrel knows.

Ahhhh! That’s better. Now to go

Off to make my nest,

Deep inside a woodshed row

Safe and warm, it’s best.

November 18, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 28 Comments

The Fate of Trees

Montana is proud of its cottonwood trees,

So tough when the weather is bold,

Steady, prevailing, along comes the breeze,

It brings northern winds and the cold.

The trunks with their lumpy bark, stem the wild winds,

The texture adds warmth to the trees,

Though winter has threatened, the sun soon rescinds

The sentence the north wind decrees.

A lonely fatality, victim of spray,

Was covered with poison by chance,

Its skeleton stands, to remind us, each day,

Its beauty was all in our hands.

The dam in its cruelty drowned every tree,

The water rose into their crown,

Decay and slow death in the newly made sea,

Leave once noble sticks breaking down.

The nuthatch is happy to drill a new nest,

Admiring a tree with such soul,

She praises the tree and says, “You are the best,

Not just a utility pole.”

As evening approaches, the cottonwoods sigh,

And whisper with shivery leaves,

The autumn is golden, but soon by and by,

They’ll run out of short-term reprieves.

October 27, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 43 Comments

A Jay-ded Viewpoint

Water cooler gossip flows,

Fast as water from the hose,

Each one spouting what he knows,

As their petty nature shows.

Who does Princess think she is,

Wanting me to call her ms?

Prissy Missy minus fizz,

‘Cept her hairdo, which is frizz.

I see better from up here,

I can take my time and leer,

At her vanity severe,

Does she think we all will cheer?

La-dee-dah, the world is mine,

I’m a princess, looking fine,

Hollyhocks all in a line,

Happy shivers down my spine.

Of course you know this kind of talk is all for the birds.

September 26, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 54 Comments

An Omen of Change

It helicoptered from the tree,

This golden flaky leaf,

It’s happening, and I can see,

The maple is in grief.

The summer days are sadly gone,

Those romping times were fun,

But autumn’s here, we must move on

From lazing in the sun.

Without the maple’s leafy dress,

Her long arms will be bare,

No hiding places for the squirrels

Who used to scamper there.

It’s sad to see the warm days go,

And we’ll be soused with rain,

The leaves will swirl, the wind will blow,

As autumn comes again.

But as the summer weather sours,

Rambunctious days retire,

I’ll find a way to pass the hours,

Chew slippers by the fire.

August 29, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 44 Comments

Whoever Said Life Was Fair?

Look closely and what do you see hanging out of Emma’s mouth?

She had just been over to a stack of landscaping ties that she had been visiting constantly over the last few weeks, and I saw her lunge at something.

She got what she lunged for, but then stood there not knowing if she should swallow or spit.

Whoever said that life was fair?

Didn’t I catch that mouse?

Good clean catch was fair and square.

Snatched her by her house.

Meanwhile Maisie Mouse was cast into darkness. I couldn’t see what she was doing in there, but I feared the worst.

Oh my goodness! It’s so dark,

Wet and warm with slime,

That black dog is like a shark,

Got me good this time.

But Emma is so obedient. She knows that when I say, “Thank you,” she should give up what’s in her mouth.

After many, pleading “thank yous” Maisie was dropped onto the grass. I had to then protect her from another onslaught of Emma-attacks. Maisie ran up onto my shoes and then onto the cuff of my sweat pants. Luckily they are elasticized and she had no access to my bare leg (or anywhere else). I took a tissue from my jacket pocket and picked her up – not an easy task with her skittering here and there. But as soon as I got hold of her, the ungrateful girl sank her chompers into my finger.

Did I let go? You’d better believe it. I had to quickly distract Emma while Maisie made her way through the grass to the edge of the trees and disappeared.

Tiny little needle knives

Sank into my skin,

Thanks I got for saving lives,

What a fool I’ve been.

I’m glad Maisie survived, but I’m still waiting for a Thank You note from her. It could be a while. Oh – wait! Here’s Maisie.

August 26, 2023
by wordsfromanneli 34 Comments

Pileated Woodpecker Visits Again

Folks, I want you to know that this year it has been great to visit Anneli’s garden. It’s quiet (she’s hardly ever out here), and it’s so-o-o-o … shall we say, to be polite … it’s “au naturel.”

She thinks it’s a mess, but to me, it looks better than ever. Bugs are hiding everywhere, under weeds she hasn’t cleared away. A smorgasbord for me!

As a matter of fact, I think I might have one of those little critters on me. “Well, surprise, surprise, little bugs. There’s no free ride on me! You will be on my dinner menu. Heh, heh, heh, haaa-hooo!”