Bliadhna mhath ùr, Scottish Gaelic for Happy New Year.  This week, New Year Postcards have begun winging their way across the country.  Today I'm sharing one for New York and one from Ohio.  I'll be placing these on my Poe-tree.

upon the lake
winter's freshness
​exhale earth's frostbitten bite
Evolve!
​~Carol Varsalona
Photo by Carol Varsalona

recently minted
shiny coin of here and now
ready to be spent

~Mary Lee Hahn
​Photo by Mary Lee Hahn

Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town has the first 2021 poetry round-up.  So thankful for this community. Here's to many poems this year.

I don't usually comment but I was surprised to find that some years have 53 weeks in them. This is that year.
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This banner hangs in Milwaukie Presbyterian Church, my church.  Over the last several years, I've been asked to write something for the church Christmas card.  This year, this is the outside of the card. Since it's Christmas, I thought it fitting to share the poem I wrote for the card. (I usually write two and let them committee select the one they want.)

gathering
faith and waiting for
miracles
in the world
bring us hope, peace, joy
and love
gifts of the season

~jone rush macculloch

I wish you the love and hope of the season.  Much love.
Irene at Live Your Poem is hosting Poetry Friday.  Visit for more poetry goodness.

.Our Poetry Friday community has many ways to connect; every Friday here, poetry collectives that share monthly challenges, the upcoming New Year's Poem Postcard sendoff, and Tabatha Yeatts' summer and Winter Poetry Swap.

This week a package arrive from the east coast and my Winter Swap partner was revealed.  Thank you, Heidi Mordhorst, for this thoughtful poem, "Under her Tree."  It could be a bio-poem about what I care about.  "You'll find" is a terrific repeating line.  She used a photo recently took from Astoria for my trees, don't you love the stars? I need to up my poetry game fir these swaps after this.

I also learned something about Heidi.  I was unaware of this delicious book, PUMPKIN BUTTERFLY; POEMS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF NATURE by her and illustrated by Jenny Reynish. It's a perfect addition for my poetry mentor books.
I particularly like the poem, "Winter Linens" which is probably perfect for part of the country today and in which I hope to see sometime this winter.



Winter Linens by Heidi Mordhost

Just water
solid water
just water frozen white

clinging to every leaf and chunk of gravel
lying along every twig and wire
mounding over every stump and silent ball

and in the dawning light
this water frozen white
glows cold and comfort both

as if to step out and lie down in it
to sink into the later that lines the slope of the slide
would be a cozy coming home to bed.

Thank you, Heidi for this wonderful and timely winter swap.  
I wonder what others will find under their trees.

Poetry Friday goodness is found at Michelle at Michelle Kogan. Please head over there and see what else is happening in our poetry universe.

All the poetry goodness can be found at  Buffy at Buffy Silverman this week.  Thanks, Buffy.

I was rummaging around on my computer this week and found the following tritina I wrote in 2015.  I don't really recall what the occasion was for me to write it and it doesn't appear to have been on my blog. I took the photo on the Glen Jackson Bridge on my way to school. October through January had some of the most spectacular early morning views.