“Turkey in the Straw” and Spring

[Jerryk]

“Turkey in the Straw” and Spring

Finally, Jack Frost loosened his grip
on our fruit trees to depart for the Pole.

Bare twigs transform into overwhelming
blossom bows, and my unrestrained soul
soars skyward. I am the hitherto bored boy
who unshackles wintery bonds to rush
into the arms of nearing Spring.

Warm breezes lure me to the nearby knoll
and I fly the homemade kite, but then
my eye espies a horned lark tumbling through
the air, emitting streams of tsee-ee sounds.

A cottontail mom raises her faintly mewing kits;
their small faces peer over the burrow’s edge,
looking at me--as if asking: Are you Spring?

Steady breeze. I tie the soaring kite to a sapling,
watch its long tail sway. Then I play
“Turkey in the Straw” on my harmonica.

[Jerryk]

Absolutely stunning, J. Definitely a fan of your writing style. This entire piece speaks home to me! Wonderfully done.

Hi, DragonsOfRose;
thank you for reading and offering a helpful comment. Style and substance do make a poem. Very much appreciated,
Jerry

[Baywriter]

There is an element of nostalgia to this piece that I really connect with -- flying homemade kites, playing the harmonica. I like the warmth it adds to the poem, as the poem altogether seems to be about warmth in a loose sense. I liked the way you combined these ideas with the image of winter melting away and turning into spring, and you did this with a wonderful sense of imagery. I truly enjoyed it (and I'm really excited for winter to actually become spring...eventually). Great work. Thank you for sharing.

Bay

[Jerryk]

There is an element of nostalgia to this piece that I really connect with -- flying homemade kites, playing the harmonica. I like the warmth it adds to the poem, as the poem altogether seems to be about warmth in a loose sense. I liked the way you combined these ideas with the image of winter melting away and turning into spring, and you did this with a wonderful sense of imagery. I truly enjoyed it (and I'm really excited for winter to actually become spring...eventually). Great work. Thank you for sharing.

Bay

Hi Bay;
with retirement came lots of leisure time. I spend it by loafing, writing poetry, reflecting on my youth, and playing the harmonica or the penny pipe. You should hear me play "The Last Rose of Summer" on my drool-free days, Thanks for your kind words,
Jerry

[Mizzy]

A very apt poem for the time of year Jerry,
You make me yearn Spring in your writing....

Lovely poem......Mick.

[Jerryk]

A very apt poem for the time of year Jerry,
You make me yearn Spring in your writing....

Lovely poem......Mick.

Hello Mick, my friend;
spring, fall, and even winter (at least here in my part of sunny Arizona) are my favorite. Summers are hard on man and beast, but I manage, thanks to my huge Stetson hat and sun lotion. Thanks for the super comment; take care. Jerry

[mikecaalaska]

Jerry, fantastic - I can see myself there as spring is ushered into the desert - our winds and wildlife. Many thanks.

Mike

[Jerryk]

Jerry, fantastic - I can see myself there as spring is ushered into the desert - our winds and wildlife. Many thanks.

Mike

Hi there, Mike;
well, we are practically neighbors; we even share the weather, lol. Usually, you get the rain and wind before it hits us, and then the hills come alive with lush vegetation and critters. Thank you for reading and commenting, Mike. Take care.
Jerry

[Ladywildalice]

Born in Georgia, raised in northern states, I can feel the itch of approaching Spring felt by the country child that wandered many a wooded path and spring-fed meadow. There is something about the smell of a Spring breeze, the feel of softening ground beneath the feet, the feel of new-sprung blades of verdant freshness that tells the heart that all is well and home is at hand. Thanks for this romp through a child's nostalgia, I was running right along side.

[Jerryk]

Born in Georgia, raised in northern states, I can feel the itch of approaching Spring felt by the country child that wandered many a wooded path and spring-fed meadow. There is something about the smell of a Spring breeze, the feel of softening ground beneath the feet, the feel of new-sprung blades of verdant freshness that tells the heart that all is well and home is at hand. Thanks for this romp through a child's nostalgia, I was running right along side.

Thank you,Ladywildalice;
well, there is that saying, You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy. I always look forward to spring and late fall. Summer doesn't really thrill me, lol. Thank you for being able to relate to my childhood memories,
Jerry

[inflames]

You have spring already? It's -22 C here today. I'm crying a bit. Nice to hear these words- hope for the future! I'll see spring soon, hopefully! Congrats on your spotlight. :)

[LorettaYoung]

Your charm of nature, and the imagery which is, 20th century modern, you said, the writer reminds me of a Whitman character; and the feel of his writing; I welcome the thought of April, thanks, well done and congratulations. Best Loretta

[Jerryk]

You have spring already? It's -22 C here today. I'm crying a bit. Nice to hear these words- hope for the future! I'll see spring soon, hopefully! Congrats on your spotlight. :)

Hi there, Inflames;
well, I live in the southwestern sunbelt of the US. Thanks to our low elevation, during the winter we may get one or two nights of light freeze. Today we had 83 degrees F. Even our wildflowers are in bloom! Be of good cheer; for you, too, spring is only a couple months away, lol. But I won't be quite so chipper when July comes with many days of 110-115 degrees in the shade,
Thanks for reading and the congrats,
Jerry

[Jerryk]

Your charm of nature, and the imagery which is, 20th century modern, you said, the writer reminds me of a Whitman character; and the feel of his writing; I welcome the thought of April, thanks, well done and congratulations. Best Loretta

Thanks very much, Loretta;
when I attended one particular poetry writing class the instructor labeled me a throwback to 19th century-style writing; "Too telly; too many adjectives, etc, nag nag." (In fact, he even belittled Walt Whitman, lol.)
I realized that I had to discover my own style, even if it displeased most other contemporary poets. I enjoy writing narrative poems that include ballads, idylls, epics, and stories (short novels) in verse that are far too lengthy for this site. Thanks for the congrats, Loretta. Much appreciated,
Jerry

[Windsend]

Wonderful poem Jerry. Congratulations on the spotlight. A wonderful piece of poetry for February. Full of life and visions of easier times.

[rupertpupkin]

Lovely cosy feel to this wonderful poem. Well done on this most deserving spotlight.

[Jerryk]

Wonderful poem Jerry. Congratulations on the spotlight. A wonderful piece of poetry for February. Full of life and visions of easier times.

Hi Windsend;
yeah, those were the days; it's always great to relive those pleasant childhood memories. Thanks for the congrats , but mostly for reading and commenting. Very much appreciated,
Jerry

[Jerryk]

Lovely cosy feel to this wonderful poem. Well done on this most deserving spotlight.

Hello there, Rupert;
as kids, most of us lived a sheltered life, free of care. I think children nowadays miss out on the simple things freely given by nature. Glad you like the feel of my poem. Thanks for reading and the congrats. Much appreciated,
Jerry

[Balustrade]

Heartiest congratulations on a well deserved spot.

[JASON]

what a wonderful poem, it captures the essence of spring...
The carefree pace makes it memorable - well done jerry.