 ©Graphic by Amber Fleek
Welcome to Poetry Friday. I am so glad you are here. As I write, it's winter solstice. Actually the exact time of the solstice is 10:27 PM (EST) or 7:27 PM (PST). It's also called the hibernal solstice.
It's been a day filled of solstice activities, starting with sunrise. In which I listened to my heart and took a risk that perhaps just 4.5 miles away at the top of an extinct lava dome, the weather might be clearer than the fog layer at my house. 
My final stop for today was Leach Botanical Garden. It was a place to see winter in its glory, sip hot cider and paint a rock or two. One I left for placement in their rock garden and the other will be revealed early 2024 for my One Little Word. Now it's your turn. Please leave your links below.
 © Amber Fleek, Graphic
Janice at Salt City Verse has the hosting duties today. She's reflecting on the Christmas holiday and shares a haiku.
 circa, 1958 My brother, Jon and me
I was recently asked about how I decorate for the holidays. I have sections: a tabletop dedicated to two trees Mom made, a snowman table that stays up through January, the Nativity from my husband's childhood, and our little table top Christmas tree.
I put decorations up starting something in November as I feel moved. During childhood, though, it was different. We always had a real Christmas tree. However, my brother and I never saw the tree until Christmas morning. It was a gift from Santa along with the presents. Fully decorated, complete with tinsel. Shimmering and beautiful and magical. I never understood how Santa carried the presents and the trees. Fast forward to 1963, we'd moved to Simi Valley, a place where the Santa Ana winds roared a lot. The trees would be scrawny and in 1963, our tree brought unexcited visitors...flies . Yes, it hatched flies. And that was the end of real trees. The next year, 1964, began the tradition of the tree up early with a bright shiny and ALL new baubles adorning the branches. My parents threw away ALL the antique ornaments that magically appeared on Christmas Day. The only survivor of the family ornaments is the tree topper that is on my tree, Fragile and magical and a memory of childhood. 
Last Call for New Year Poetry Postcards
It's 16 days until the new year! And that means time to start thinking of sending New Year Post Cards! Our little group is at 16 and we'd love for you to join us! I will be sending out the groups by December 22, 2023.
Send five, send ten or send to all? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.How It Works:
The Party is Here Next Week? Do You Have a Childhood of Winter or the Holidays to Share?
Patricia at Reverie has us thinking a tad bit as to what we might include in a letter to Santa. It makes me think of that wonderful song, "Grown Up Christmas List" written by David Foster and Linda Thompson.
The last stanza is so, so fitting: No more lives torn apart That wars would never start And time would heal all hearts And everyone would have a friend And right would always win And love would never end, no This is my grown up Christmas list This is my only lifelong wish This is my grown up Christmas list
Last week, I shared Amy Losak's haiku in the later HSA Members' Anthology. Today I have a back story about my haiku which actually began as this poem for Laura Shovan's 2023 February Poetry Project. Her theme was story and this poem was a response to Marilyn R. Garcia sharing a photo of a family quilt and this prompt: Today let’s think about old objects that hold stories. What is the oldest object in your home? Why do you have it? How did you get it? Do you actually use it and how? Who will get it when you have crossed the rainbow bridge and why?
Great Grandmother’s Quilt My great grandmother’s quilt hangs in my bedroom Reminding me of the generational creative bonds Each fabric piece tells a story, threads stitching the collection together My great grandmother sewed perfect circles My drawn circles aren’t as perfect but she has a message My great grandmother’s quilt hangs in my bedroom For fun, she hid spectacles as embroidery on the quilt I still haven’t found them. I keep looking. Reminding me of the generational creative bonds Which fabrics were dresses, which were aprons I do my quilting with words and papers Each fabric piece tells a story, threads stitching the collection together © 2023, Jone Rush MacCulloch When the HSA Members' Anthology put the call for haiku for the theme, elements, the quilt came to mind . It was one of five haiku I submitted. Essentially I sent in a found haiku from the above poem. (PS. It is obvious that I sort of staged this quilt photo! LOL! This quilt was made in the 1800s.There is another single quilt square hanging there) 
You Made it to the Invitation!
It's 25 days until the new year! And that means time to start thinking of sending New Year Post Cards! Our little group is at 14 and we'd love for you to join us!
Send five, send ten or send to all? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.How It Works:
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AuthorAll photos and poems in these blog posts are copyrighted to Jone Rush MacCulloch 2006- Present. Please do not copy, reprint or reproduce without written permission from me. 
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2023 Progressive Poem
April 1 Mary Lee Hahn, Another Year of Reading April 2 Heidi Mordhorst, My Juicy Little Universe April 3 Tabatha, The Opposite of Indifference April 4 Buffy Silverman April 5 Rose Cappelli, Imagine the Possibilities April 6 Donna Smith, Mainely Write April 7 Margaret Simon, Reflections on the Teche April 8 Leigh Anne, A Day in the Life April 9 Linda Mitchell, A Word Edgewise April 10 Denise Krebs, Dare to Care April 11 Emma Roller, Penguins and Poems April 12 Dave Roller, Leap Of Dave April 13 Irene Latham Live You Poem April 14 Janice Scully, Salt City Verse April 15 Jone Rush MacCulloch April 16 Linda Baie, TeacherDance April 17 Carol Varsalona, Beyond Literacy Link April 18 Marcie Atkins April 19 Carol Labuzzetta at The Apples in My Orchard April 20 Cathy Hutter, Poeturescapes April 21 Sarah Grace Tuttle, Sarah Grace Tuttle’s Blog, April 22 Marilyn Garcia April 23 Catherine, Reading to the Core April 24 Janet Fagal, hosted by Tabatha, The Opposite of Indifference April 25 Ruth, There is no Such Thing as a God-Forsaken Town April 26 Patricia J. Franz, Reverie April 27 Theresa Gaughan, Theresa’s Teaching Tidbits April 28 Karin Fisher-Golton, Still in Awe Blog April 29 Karen Eastlund, Karen’s Got a Blog April 30 Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, and Writing |
