Imagine the Possibilities

Since Tuesday marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year, I wanted to commemorate it in some small way. So what could be better than breaking open a fortune cookie or two? Except, I didn’t have any fortune cookies, so I did the next best thing – I logged into a random fortune cookie generator. I admit, I went through a few before I found one I liked, which was fun, but certainly not as delicious. This one shouted to me boldly: “The important thing is to never stop questioning.”

I firmly believe that we need to remain curious and questioning throughout life, keeping that natural wonder from childhood alive. That fortune also was the inspiration for these two question poems.

The Visitor

Who’s been stalking through the yard,
crisscrossing,
searching?
Was it the red fox, our sometime visitor?
Or was it the antlered deer who scratches the tree trunk
and empties the feeder?
Friend or foe, will you return?
Will you stay, perhaps, for tea?
Draft, 2022 Rose Cappelli

Words

Why do I wake with words in my head,
swirling like snowflakes?
Will they land, blizzard-bold,
shouting of wonders?
Or will they settle, like whispered wishes,
on bare-branched trees?
Can I scoop them into a poem
that sings the day awake?
Draft, 2022 Rose Cappelli

Happy Lunar New Year! Remember to keep asking questions, and may the Year of the Tiger bring you courage and strength.

And by the way, I’m spending a few days with some writing friends at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center. It’s cold and icy and will be snowing tomorrow, but I’m staying in the Nikki Grimes cabin (#9). I’m hoping some poetry genius rubs off while I’m here.

Elisabeth has the Poetry roundup today at Unexpected Intersections.

Often, as I sit with my morning coffee, I am entertained by a lively scene across the street. The little girl (not so little anymore) waits for the school bus, almost always accompanied by her mother. Over the years the scene has changed some. For a long time there were two girls, but one has left for college. A few years ago they were joined by a furry friend, and more recently, by another furry friend. But one thing remains the same – whether the bus is coming or going, there is always someone there to say goodbye or hello. My poem for today focuses on the two furry friends.

Goodbye/Hello

They prance and hop
to the top of the drive,
leashes tangled
in a jangle of excitement.

A yip-yap tiny fuss
when here it comes!
The bus
interrupts their play,
takes her away
until once again—

they prance and hop
to the top of the drive,
welcoming her home.

–2022 Rose Cappelli

Irene has the poetry roundup today at Live Your Poem, so head on over there for lots of poetry goodness.

I’ve been fortunate for the past several years (possibly a decade), to have bluebirds nest in my backyard. I love spotting that flash of blue in late winter as they return to familiar spaces. Several years ago I planted a few winterberry bushes hoping the bluebirds would feel welcome to stay through the winter. The bushes started out as mere twigs, but they survived and eventually matured. For many years there were no berries, then for several years a few berries, then a few more. I’m not sure what happened, but this year the bushes are full of beautiful, plump, bright red berries. But last spring, after an initial brood fledged, the bluebirds seemed to diappear. So now I had berries, but no bluebirds. Until…

last week, when I spotted one perched on the feeder. I thought it strange, since bluebirds usually don’t eat seed, but there wasn’t just one, there were several. I saw them again yesterday, but the strange thing is, they aren’t eating the berries…yet.

The Winterberry Waits

The winterberry waits
to welcome a visitor.
Laden with fruit, it splatters red
in that small space by the fence.
This morning a bluebird,
his russet chest puffed and fluffed,
perches on the feeder.
One by one he snatches
a bit of fruit,
a tiny nut—
treats on this cold, cold day.

Does he not know
the winterberry is so close,
waiting to welcome a visitor?

Tabith has the round up today here. Head on over for more poetry and some puzzle fun, too.