February Calling

Spontaneous write

January a month of ghastly …

ghosts goodbyes and shadows
suffocating
where even the limbs of our silver birch
sigh with grief and wave weak
in their doldrum sorrow

insipid is the winter garden
drear in despondent gloom
January a month without mirrors
can’t end too cursing soon

in hibernation
don’t find me they say
for the love of the Lord
don’t look at yourself
even your own skin
is a sickly shade of grey

a countdown to days ahead
where those beds where the bulbs rest
will bring signs of life

wait for the first snowdrops to appear
or crocus in golden clumps bid hello
as the most wicked month in the
calendar year retreats
while I cheer with my hearts drum beat

February calling

Reviews

[JustPlainHere]

This is really gorgeous with its rhythm and alliteration. I love the descriptions as well. It seems all the cheer is reserved for the ushering in of the cold season, but then there's none left for the rest of it. We're all a little gray for those months - which leads me to really identify with the fourth stanza. Seeing myself in the mirror during those months, with their draftiness and dampness is really depressing. I love how the poem ends with the thought of snow, and how that at least gives us something. January being just a cold barren emptiness between the holiday season and snow season.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your very thoughtful review. I appreciate you stopping by to share JPH.

Chris

[JustPlainHere]

Very much my pleasure.

[Sami Khalil]

You are very talented and resilient in the face of calamities, adversaties. There are better day ahead to look forward to, better months. A very impacting poem. Let us, if you can, look for those signs of life all around. Best of luck in the New Year.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for an uplifting review Sami. Looking for better days ahead. I am particularly fond of the spring. The season of rebirth.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! It is indeed. You are welcome.

[lightsong]

your title what hunted me first, reminded me with a tribute for a friend I wrote years back when he passed on February.

The weight on your heart is unbearable, the pain is extreme, and your poem moves us with that powerfully, effulgently, a masterpiece of sorrow, loss, dullness and gloominess... the more perfect about the poem that the reader will love it though it is about something unpleasant. that's how your superior pen works.

May peace settle in your heart dear Chris, and February comes with gentle blooming grace 🤍

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear lightsong. Too many sad anniversaries close together of my dearly departed. The mood is heavy. It always is at this time of year. February though is on the cusp of spring which is my favorite time of year. I can take the bad with the good, all that life deals out. Resilience I get from my mother:)

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Here in Michigan. February can be worst than January in Michigan. I need late March. Hello dear Chris and I am yearning for Spring too. Thank you for sharing your amazing words and thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

January is the killer month for me. Too many sad anniversaries close together. February is on the cusp of spring. Thank you Coyote. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Been a easy Winter, so far in Michigan. I hope Winter skip Michigan. You are welcome dear Chris.
read moreBeen a easy Winter, so far in Michigan. I hope Winter skip Michigan. You are welcome dear Chris.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

So very, very true. It is quite the drear month, isn't it?

I love the first two stanzas in particular.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Linda for your visit. You are appreciated.

Chris

[D. Mansfield]

I like this poem alot, my mothers birthday comes up on the 10th, I always felt kind of sorry for her in that regard

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much. Pleased you enjoyed what you read DM.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am sure this coming month will have to be better....
January can be wicked for many reasons...sad and scary and insensitive.
we will get through it.
I just know we can.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you J. Yes my friend we will get through it whatever. Thank you for your understanding.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

It's true January has little to recommend it, as you make clear with your imagery (I hope my skin is not yet "a sickly shade of grey."). My own experience, however, is that February, the dead of winter, is the real killer. When I was a mental health prescreener, my unit got more crisis calls then than in any other month except August, "the dog days." Unending cold or humidity both make people howl at the moon.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. February being my birthday month and also being on the cusp of spring is lighter for me. January though …all I can say is yuk :)

[JD Major]

From the month of despair, the hope of February :) ...an elegant write.
Ah yes, Blue Monday, Jan 16th, 9 days away ... but I ask myself, how does one celebrate? What gifts are appropriate? Is it a paid Holiday? haha

[Chris Shaw]

Blue Monday eh? That sounds like a bucket of laughs:)) Roll on February and thank you JD for checking in.

Chris

[light and ashes]

Solid writing, Chris. Well done.
February is our birth month.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you my friend. Yes our birthday month will be with us soon. Have a happy Sunday.

read moreThank you my friend. Yes our birthday month will be with us soon. Have a happy Sunday.

Chris

[light and ashes]

You as well, Chris, thank you.