Chimney Smoke or Wireless Fires #PoetryFriday

Happy Poetry Friday, friends! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

I haven’t been writing much new poetry recently. My days are filled with copyediting and passage writing, and I’m grateful for the work. I also have some internal plans for poetry “continuing education” in the new year:>) For now, though, I’ll probably be resharing some previous poems that feel right for the moment.

This one is called “Passing By a Winter Cottage,” and it’s a lai I wrote for a former Poetry Princesses challenge back in 2017. Nowadays it’s Zoom meetings and game nights more than chimney smoke that reminds me I’m not alone. You know–potato, potahto. Ha!

Passing by a Winter Cottage

And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with Michelle Kogan–I love her watercolors SO much!

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10 Responses

  1. How beautiful. The things that let us know we’re not alone. I love the “au” rhymes and how “knot” reminds me of a braided rope.

  2. This poem is lovely to read aloud with all the alliteration. “Square and squat./ A frozen black knot. And more.
    I wish you and your family a happy holiday!

  3. I do think that a little bit, Laura, when I go out walking & see neighbor’s chimney smoke, know they’re inside cozy & yes, I’m not alone. I’m glad you have other work & the new year beckons for more goodness in words! Enjoy the week ahead!

  4. I like how you are revisiting your own poetry instead of feeling pressured to produce something when you have less time. This is an evocative piece, conjuring up that winter cottage with smoke in my own mind. Thanks for sharing it! Good luck with all your new pursuits!

  5. Your poem fits well with our times–and I like your wispy smoke and splash of watery color. I enjoy all of your nature pics when you’re on your walks too, thanks Laura!

  6. These days of the snowstorm has made me feeling cozy so your poem had just the right measure of peace, hope, and togehterness in thought.

  7. Laura, I love the sounds and images of your poem! Thank you for sharing your notes on writing a lai poem. I relate to your poem because I think along the same lines as you do when I see smoke in a chimney. I love staring at fire in the fireplace, but the smoke bothers me. It’s a winter wonderland here in Ballston Spa in the northeast with about 34 of snow during the storm and another couple more last night. I’m glad you have work to do. I bought your Rhyming Picture Books the Write Way. I’m looking forward to reading it and applying it to my writing. Stay cozy. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Wow! We’ve got a winter storm coming our way today (Minnesota), so I’m hopeful for a white Christmas! Glad my poem resonated with you, Gail, and I hope you find some helpful tips in Rhyming Picture Books :>)

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