By Mary
In a heavy winter coat and pink snow boots that I am often times teased about due to having two nieces 6 and under sporting replica pairs, I trudged towards “life” also known as an assortment of narcissus bulbs that are being sold at the Viroqua Food Coop. The narcissus bulbs I purchased are a representation of the eagerness I feel for the goodness of springs sunlight.
Throughout the Christmas season I got a slew of Christmasy mail. After that stopped coming the seed catalogs stated arriving in the mailbox. How those catalogs make me happy! I am a child of the sun. In November it is time to give the fields a break.
And to put aside the boots that trod through the mud and dust.
The days of cow work on my horse, Mars come to an end as the fog gets thicker in the morning and the days grow both colder and shorter.
Both the Father farmer and the Farmers daughter are getting restless.
My father, a former journalist (but never a poet) has now taken up the occupation of writing poetry. I came across him scribbling with his famous illegible scrawl the morning after Cale’s wedding in a MN hotel room. If any of you know Patrick Slattery you know the man doesn’t just get a little into something, He gives a full 100 crazy choleric percent. In the hotel room I said: So what’s the deal on this poetry thing? His response was that he aimed to not just produce 1 poem. Oh no, the goal for that father of mine is to write 2 poems a week. ” Um, okay” was the reply from me. Fast forward to the next next: by that time he had written 2 more pieces. It has been about a week since he has beecome a poet, and frankly by now, I have totally lost track of how many poems have been churned out. All I know is that he is scribbling and muttering a whole lot.
Dad’s wintertime mania isn’t something that I can judge fairly seeing as I am falling apart myself. I have put a considerable amount of thought into buying lambs, seeds, and most embarrassingly a 2 piece bathing suit. Never mind the 2 slight facts that I like water about as much as a cat does, and I am about as comfortable in a swim suit as a Amish woman. Hey come on now, those are just minor details! Buying a bathing suit in January just seems to make sense!
I guess poetry does too in context with seasonal restlessness. All I can say is that I am SO ready for April. As an additional note: Poetry really isn’t that great (sorry Colleen). I mean, really… I would way rather have Dad babbling about asparagus and compost.
Oh Wisconsin, you only have 3 more months of badness left to give!
More about our Farmer Father and Sumner Sister here:
Hahaha, the bathing suit – I feel exactly the same way! I feel so uncomfortable wearing a 2-pieces suit (it makes me feel so exposed, almost naked), that I always wear a rashi shirt over it (it also protects me from getting sunburnt).
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? I thought not.
I just posted about poetry today. Perhaps you, I mean your dad, would like to check it out:
http://mnprairieroots.com/2013/01/15/the-evolution-of-poetry/
I’ve even felt the tug to write (bad) poetry this winter. Must be something in the air.