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Winter glimpses...

1/4/2022

51 Comments

 
Hello dear blog friends! I hope your holidays were heart-filling. If you're like me, you're just beginning to get in the grove again. When I read author Colleen Chesebro email this morning, invitating poems related to color, I knew the year had officially begun.

My first thought about color was my favorite winter bird. And so, I offer you my syllabic creation, a Tanka poem and - a pair of cardinals. 

Happy 2022 to all! 💗
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51 Comments
Colleen Chesebro link
1/4/2022 13:31:35

I love cardinals! This is stunning, Gwen. Happy New Year of poetry writing! <3

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Gwen Plano
1/4/2022 14:06:38

Thanks so much, Colleen. Cardinals are beautiful, especially in the snow. 🐦

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D.L. Finn
1/4/2022 16:27:47

Beautiful, Gwen. There is something special about the birds against the icy backgrounds. A reminder of what it to come. I love the flow of this poem, it is quiet and gentle like the winter moment.

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Gwen Plano
1/4/2022 19:39:16

Thanks so much, Denise. Our snow is melting now, but as cold as it is, I marvel at the beautfy. 😊

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Joan Hall link
1/4/2022 18:58:16

Your poem is lovely, Gwen. I love cardinal. Several come to our bird feeders and you might say they dance in delight!

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Gwen Plano
1/4/2022 19:40:33

Thanks so much, Joan. Cardinals are captivating aren't they? 😊

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Staci Troilo link
1/5/2022 06:19:43

That's lovely, Gwen. Cardinals were my grandfather's favorite bird. Every time I see one, I think of him. You gave me a wonderful gift today.

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 09:52:18

Ahhh, so sweet, Staci. I'm elated you like the poem and now I'll be thinking of your grandfather as well. 💗

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Staci Troilo link
1/5/2022 10:11:00

❤️

Mae Clair link
1/5/2022 07:25:32

Cardinals are gorgeous birds, especially when glimpsed during the snowy days of winter. Your Tanka is perfect, Gwen. I love the how beautifully it's presented, too.

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 09:55:18

Thank you so much, Mae. They're particularly beautiful in the snow aren't they? All the best...😊

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Elizabeth Gauffreau link
1/5/2022 09:20:31

I love your cardinal tanka! Oddly enough, yesterday I left the house in frigid temperatures to do some errands, only to hear two birds just singing away. This never happens in the winter.

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 10:12:07

You've prompted big smiles, Liz. Thank you for sharing that experience.💗

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Harmony Kent link
1/5/2022 09:50:09

Soft shades of silence … love this. Love it all. Wonderful, my friend. Happy New Year. Hugs 💕🙂

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 10:13:05

Thanks so much, Harmony. Happy New Year to you as well. 🤗

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john howell link
1/5/2022 10:48:17

The Cardinal is my favorite bird as well. I remember taking a bird call competition when I was in summer camp. I was asked to do the Cardinal. I thought I had fallen into heaven since I was imitating cardinals since I was about five year old. Well, I gave out the call of a male cardinal and the guy judging the event said I had it wrong. I could not believe the injustice. That was 70 years ago and I can still see his face. Great Tanks, Gwen. (By the way the guy was wrong )

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 11:31:12

That's a great story, John. And I never doubted that you were right. Cardinals are so beautiful -- and spunky. When we lived in Branson, one used to tap on my office window. I think he just wanted me to notice him, then again, maybe he was hungry. 😊

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john howell link
1/5/2022 18:49:16

I have it on good authority Cardinals are only attracted to pretty women

Miriam Hurdle link
1/5/2022 15:15:41

Shame on the judge! He didn't know what he was doing. He was wrong. You should have play a recording to him to prove him wrong, John. It's not too late to do that if he is still alive!!!

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Gwen Plano
1/10/2022 10:48:59

John, you are too funny. And, I like Miriam's suggestion -- you should contact the judge. What a story that would be!😁

CS Boyack
1/5/2022 11:02:43

I know they’re common birds, but we don’t have them here. They look content in the winter environment.

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 11:32:06

I've never studied them, but they are certainly beautiful in the snow. Thank you, Craig.

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Jan Sikes
1/5/2022 11:09:13

This is nothing short of exquisite, Gwen. I love the Cardinal and believe them to be messenger birds between this world and the next. Just beautiful!

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 11:33:35

Thank you so much, Jan. I didn't know that about them, but I can imagine it to be true. 💗

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Jacquie Biggar
1/5/2022 12:20:48

They're beautiful, Gwen! Your poem fits perfectly <3

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 12:46:06

Thank you so much, Jacquie. I'm so happy you liked the poem and love the birds. 😊

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Priscilla Bettis link
1/5/2022 13:15:50

Aw, what a beautiful and happy poem!

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Gwen Plano
1/5/2022 13:58:28

Thanks so much, Priscilla. 😊

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Miriam Hurdle link
1/5/2022 15:19:07

What a delight to see the colorful Cardinals to start the new year, Gwen! Your poem is beautiful and uplifting. It brings cheerfulness we all need to start the new year. Thank you!

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Gwen Plano
1/6/2022 06:50:11

Thank you, Miriam. Cardinals are a delight, aren't they? I'm so pleased you enjoy them and my poem. 😊

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Miriam Hurdle link
1/7/2022 21:01:48

You're welcome, Gwen! :-)

Karen Ingalls
1/6/2022 03:50:26

The cardinal is not only a beautiful bird to see, but its chirping sounds are musical and happy. I look forward to their return every year.
Wonderful poem, Gwen.

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Gwen Plano
1/6/2022 06:51:59

Thank you, Karen. I love watching them, especially during the winter months. You're so right, they are happy birds. 😊

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Yvette M Calleiro link
1/6/2022 04:05:52

Beautiful poem, Gwen! Cardinals represent a lost loved one visiting through spirit, so they are always lovely to have around. :-)

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Gwen Plano
1/6/2022 06:52:52

That's a lovely thought, Yvette. Now I look forward to their visits even more. Thank you! 💗

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Jill Weatherholt link
1/6/2022 04:49:29

Your poem is beautiful, Gwen. A male and female cardinal were my first bird sighting of 2022. They are my favorite...behind the hummingbird, of course. Happy New Year! xo

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Gwen Plano
1/6/2022 06:54:39

Thank you, Jill. Whenever I spot a hummingbird, I think of you. They're not in our area just now, but in the Spring and Winter they are abundant. 💗

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Jill Weatherholt link
1/7/2022 05:57:40

That makes me happy, Gwen. xo

ben Alexander link
1/6/2022 06:33:00

How lovely! Is the photo yours too, Gwen? Were you lucky enough to catch those two birds IRL?

<3
David

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Gwen Plano
1/6/2022 06:56:17

I have some beautiful photos of cardinals, but this image is from Canva. Thank you, David, for visiting and commenting.😊

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Eugenia link
1/6/2022 14:19:56

A beautiful piece, Gwen! Seeing red cardinals of a winter day is lovely.

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Gwen Plano
1/6/2022 19:05:18

Thank you, Eugenia. Very kind of you to say. 💗

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NATALIE DUCEY link
1/7/2022 09:45:51

Beautiful, Gwen! Happy new year greetings to you and yours. I love cardinals and just finished our Christmas puzzle last night. It's a beautiful winter scene with cardinals. Cheers and love across the miles! xo

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Gwen Plano
1/9/2022 16:58:03

So lovely to hear from you, Natalie. I hope you are staying warm through this cold winter. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Sending hugs...💗

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Kittysverses link
1/9/2022 05:32:14

soft shades of silence. Lovely line, beautiful tanka. :)

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Gwen Plano
1/9/2022 16:58:48

Thank you so much, Kitty. I'm so pleased you like that line. 😊

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Jacqui link
1/10/2022 14:32:31

Anneli Purchase had a post with the tiny birds trying to survive the winters. Hers' weren't cardinals--I forget what species--but their round little bodies trying to stay warm really got to me.

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Marcia Meara link
1/11/2022 11:37:05

I know I'm super late, Gwen, but I just had to stop by anyway to let you know I think this is absolutely beautiful! Well done, as always. Cardinals in the snow, with a perfect verse to accompany them. Delightful!!
🤗💖

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Roberta Eaton Cheadle
1/11/2022 22:24:51

So pretty, Gwen. The cardinals are lovely against a snowy background.

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sally cronin link
1/12/2022 01:57:16

Absolutely lovely Gwen ♥

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Pete Springer link
1/17/2022 17:51:56

Hi Gwen,

I went looking for a contact form to thank you for reading my book and leaving a wonderful review. I ended up here because while I am not a poet, I am an environmentalist. My dad worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service and was involved in the recovery of various endangered animals. Both of my parents were avid birdwatchers and one of my brothers is the vice president of the North American Butterfly Association. In other words, I had no chance but to adopt similar environmental values.😊

I see that you have an education background. I toyed with becoming an administrator, but I loved teaching too much to go over to the dark side.😂 I'm kidding. I had the pleasure of working for some fabulous administrators. I also see that you studied theology. That's another connection we share as two of my aunts became nuns.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for the kind review. I've got The Choice on my Kindle (along with 300 other books, haha) I will get to it in the next couple of months.

Reply



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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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