It’s Poetry Friday!
Tabatha has the round-up today at The Opposite of Indifference. Be sure to stop by for a beautiful poem by Denise Levertov, “Concurrence.” I encourage you also to explore the meditations for this poem in the link Tabatha offers.
Here in the northeast we are preparing for the biggest winter storm we’ve had in a few years. When cold weather hits, I often think about the birds staying sheltered and warm. Turns out they are much like us.
Ready for Winter
I’m toasty in layers of sweaters and jackets;
my bird friends are fluffing fine feathers of down.
When fingers are freezing we put them in pockets
like bird beaks and feet tucked tight in a crouch.
A bunch of us crowd into forts made of snow;
birds huddle and cuddle on evergreen boughs.
I know the best places for sledding and skating;
birds recall spaces that house a seed stash.
We’re ready for winter, my bird friends and I –
the snowsqualls, the deep freeze, the thrill of the chill.
Draft, 2026RoseCappelli
I am especially thinking today of my poetry friends in the Minneapolis area. May you find shelter in the storm. Be safe.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Snowsqualls! Love that you are your bird friends are ready, Rose. Hope it’s not too miserable. xo
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Thanks, Irene! By the looks of the empty shelves in the grocery store this morning, you’d think we’ll be snowed in for weeks! (not likely)
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So charming! I love the comparison with our bird friends. Stay warm, Rose!
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Thanks, Tabatha. And thanks for hosting this week.
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Thank you, Rose, for this jaunty poem! Love all of it, especially “the thrill of the chill” and how you made so many great bird/human parallels!!! Keep cozy this weekend!
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Thanks, Mona. You, too!
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Such a flight of word play & avian affection, Remarkable Rose! I’m wishing the birds use all the assists you’ve mentioned in such a wonderfully rhyming way. Wish es for your cosy times inside, too. your fan, JAN
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Watch out for that storm. We will be getting some cold temperatures and I’m worried about my cats. Somehow, though, they have ways to stay warm. Like birds. I do think I’ll fill my feeders. Love the structure of your poem.
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We are not having the snowy storm, but only the cold, Rose. Wishing you a safe and cozy time, staying in! In the cold, I’ve had no birds at my feeder, so your lovely poem linking us with the special feathered friends fits perfectly. I love the “story” feeling you’ve shown, “birds recall spaces that house a seed stash”, and our connections!
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Oh I love a “seed stash.” Let’s hope we don’t lose power! I can handle the snow, but not looking forward to ice.
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Diametrically opposed weather in our respective worlds, Rose. As I write this, summer is at its blistering best with 42 degrees (110 F). Your poem is like a balm. Stay cozy while we seek the cool spots.
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Keep cool, Alan!
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Loved this when I saw it in Nevermores. Hope it will be one of many…
:)
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Sometimes I double dip when I need to, but this one especially felt right for our projected storm. Hope you are finding some calm amid your family storm.
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We have secured our provisions and have begun our “cozy time” even before the snowflakes fall. We will fill the feeders daily for our bird friends and throw some peanuts for the squirrels. I’ve been thinking about folks in the times before weather forecasting and insta-news. They had no idea what weather was coming their way. They had to be prepared ALL the time in winter for whatever winter might drop on them. They truly lived in the moment. In some ways, I envy them.
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I agree! With all the hype, the actual storm is almost anticlimactic. Stay safe and warm!
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“The thrill of the chill” made me smile, Rose. You all are ready, and I hope the birds have found all the best stashes. :)
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Wheeeeee! Here it comes! The cold has arrived here. I’m not out in it at all. Despite the sunny window, the thermometer reads 12! Yikes. All the schools here are prepared. Let it snow!
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Rose, I love the parallel between the birds getting through the cold snap and us. My husband and I are birders and often wonder how they are faring and where they hide. Hope you stay toasty and enjoy tour time hibernating :)
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Hi Rose, I love this. I just saw a social media post about how birds gather to stay warm during these freezing days. It was cute, and I hope all the birds survive this cold blast. It does sound like you are ready. Take care and stay warm – Carol
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This is fun, Rose. I like the rhymes & near rhymes: jackets/pockets, down/crouch, huddle/cuddle. Stay warm!
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Such a sweet poem! We’ve also been getting ready for the storm. In advance of it, we’ve had bitter cold and I’ve been feeling so sorry for the birds! Double portions of mealworm for all! Stay warm and stay safe!
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Rose, I love the sweet comparison between the birds and humans preparing for and living in the cold. Stay warm!
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It’s amazing, we haven’t a single snowflake out here in the pacific northwest – we usually get mild winters, but usually we get at least a couple of snowy days! I guess you’re getting our share of the snow this year, too! Stay warm and safe!
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