Monday 14 February 2011

Professor Winter by Mary McKeel

I feel like I’m on stage, ready to read a scene.
There’s no one to give me my cues,
or to take cues from me.

Reason says, the loyalty I gave you
is just a crumpled piece of paper.
I keep smoothing it out.

I love how the crocus comes back first
every year. No gardener needed.
Is persistence weakness, or strength?

I wanted to do something old – fashioned,
like give you a lock of my hair,
or keep a lock of yours.

I can’t keep from coming back every year
without betraying myself.


Mary McKeel, North Carolina, USA

8 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

Mary McKeel lives in North Carolina, where she was born and went to school. Her poem, “Hummingbird and Shadow”, is in the first issue of Tygerburning Literary Journal.

She works as the Kids Specialist in a bookstore, She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Paralegal Certificate from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte.

Several of her poems appeared in Thrift Poetic Arts, a local literary and art journal. She also won the first prize for poetry from Sanskrit, the literary magazine of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Karen said...

This is a perfect poem for this time of maudlin sentiments. It's like a slap in the face to those who forget that love can have other outcomes.

I love the insertion of the crocus and the essential question.

Gordon Mason said...

I enjoyed how winter became personified; and the image in the second stanza is wonderful.

M Johnston said...

Love it! Love the crocus metaphor, too.

A. Brock said...

Well done.

chris said...

great blog for poetry. thanks for developing and maintaining this blog. please keep sharing

Linhy said...

Like the poetry you got here!!

fun facts said...

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