A smidge of minstrelsy …

Keith's Ramblings

for Friday Fictioneers

This rhyme of mine from 2009 has been waiting in line for a very long time to break free and shine and this prompt seemed just fine!  

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snow-kei

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November days, brief spells of sun,

evenings afront a fire of logs.

Chilly nights of sparkling frost,

misty dawns and frozen bogs.

 

Shimmering shafts of sunlight,

shoot through naked trees.

Grass once green now golden, 

sways in a bitter breeze.

 

Holly bushes blush with berries,

ivy clambers up stone walls.

Dormant plants and sleeping flowers,

rest ‘til new year’s springtime calls.

 

Heading south beneath grey clouds,

a perfect vee of geese.

On distant hills a flock of sheep,

wrapped in woolly fleece.

 

Winter beckons

Spring can wait

Now’s the time to hibernate.

 

It originally had another verse half way down but it would have carried the poem over the 100 word limit. This is what it would have been –

A squirrel scurries ‘cross a track,

a rabbit sits and stares.

A pigeon sways upon a branch,

a red fox stands and glares.

Sorry I can’t share it with you – ooops, I just have!

 

dales-woodpileThanks to Rochelle for hosting and to Dale for the picture.

Click Froggie to join in the fun. 

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56 thoughts on “A smidge of minstrelsy …”

  4. GHLearner Nov 17, 2021 / 17:25

    So lovely and warm, it brings out everything that I love about fall and winter. And oops, I read the part I shouldn’t have read. My bad…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Dale Nov 17, 2021 / 22:41

    I’m so glad you didn’t slip in those forbidden words… This was beautiful. Makes this season feel so nice and cozy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Bill Nov 18, 2021 / 02:07

    Nicely done, Keith. it all works.
    I started with 146. It’s hard to skinny stories down by a third.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Keith's Ramblings Nov 18, 2021 / 11:18

      Thanks, Bill. That’s what I like about FriFics, most pieces need shrinking and it’s a great way to stretch your creative mind.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Bill Nov 18, 2021 / 15:24

        Right. I am always surprised by the number of word I do no need.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. rochellewisoff Nov 18, 2021 / 12:24

    Dear Keith,

    Once more you delight with verse, voice and graphics. (Nice way to sneak in a few extra words 😉 )

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. James McEwan Nov 18, 2021 / 13:40

    A great piece that describes the changing season. The natural world is robust and capable most of the time, even the smallest of creatures has a winter plan.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. draliman Nov 18, 2021 / 13:46

    A lovely poem. I’m glad you brought it out of storage for us!

    Like

    Reply
  15. Emille Nov 18, 2021 / 17:40

    Love the capture from Dale! In the place we lived before, we also had a stack of wood for the winter, but not THIS high:)
    Actually, am back here to ask you a favor. I think it was your blog who had once a climbing ivy in your post.
    For the painting I am doing now, I need a view of this – how it actually looks like. If it is your blog, please give me the perma link of your post? Thank you in advance, Emille (Jesh)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Keith's Ramblings Nov 19, 2021 / 11:26

      Hi Jesh, I’ve just gone through my posts for the last year and I can’t find one featuring climbing ivy, so I don’t think it was mine, sorry!

      Like

      Reply
      • Emille Nov 19, 2021 / 18:32

        Thanks for checking – I appreciate it!

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Inside the Mind of Isadora Nov 19, 2021 / 00:59

    Wonderful poem enveloping the reader in each line.
    I’m very happy it’s time had arrived to be revealed.
    Great write, Keith.
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. Brenda Nov 19, 2021 / 13:13

    Wow, what a lovely winter poem. Very well penned! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. dorahak Nov 19, 2021 / 19:51

    I felt I could use another layer of clothes as I read this! Keith, how beautifully rich with sensations, as autumn fades into winter. Thank you for (accidentally) completing the poem, the last stanza being as indispensable as the rest. Thankful to have read this!
    pax,
    dora

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. ain Nov 20, 2021 / 14:33

    Move over Robert Frost…..well done
    …I often find dversepoets.com a nice site to contribute to.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Keith's Ramblings Nov 21, 2021 / 14:45

      Praise indeed! Just checked out dverse and it looks interesting. Thanks, Ain.

      Like

      Reply
  25. jenne49 Nov 21, 2021 / 19:01

    Such a beautiful word picture of the season, Keith.
    The last three lines made me smile!

    Like

    Reply
  26. pennygadd51 Nov 22, 2021 / 15:49

    A very appropriate take on the prompt, Keith, and very suitable for the season. I’ve seen quite a number of shimmering shafts of sunlight, shooting through naked trees today, as I walked in my local wood.

    Like

    Reply
  27. Russell Gayer Nov 22, 2021 / 20:53

    Beautiful poem, Keith. I do enjoy the crisp mornings, but hate the shorter amount of sunlight.

    Like

    Reply

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