WINTER IS ICUMEN IN.

I like the tone of this poem that I came across just  recently. 
The  idea that it  expresses reinforces one of the key mantras that kept my mother and my Aunt Anna going through some very rough patches. 
 Let's face the music and dance.

Reel

by Barbara Crooker

Maybe night is about to come

calling, but right now

the sun is still high in the sky.

It's half-past October, the woods

are on fire, blue skies stretch

all the way to heaven. Of course,

we know winter is coming, its thin

winding sheets and its hard narrow bed.

But right now, the season's fermented

to fullness, so slip into something

light, like your skeleton; while these old

bones are still working, my darling,

let's dance.

 “Reel” by Barbara Crooker from The Book of Kells. Cascade Books, © 2019.

I think that it does express an attitude that is IRISH to the  ground.

It recalls  my favorite advice  that is attributed to BERNARD SHAW:
"We all have skeletons in our closet- the trick is to make them dance."

We are heading into winter but today was bright and sunny and  yes, a bit chilly.

I am finding the  time and energy to return to my poetry .  The inspiration?
Two days ago the members of OCEAN STATE POETS came to my home for an afternoon poetry workshop.  I just applied  to that group and was accepted a few months ago. However the only person I met was a poet named Bill who, like  me, participated in the Galway Kinnell Poetry Festival in September in Pawtucket. 
So it was very exciting when six poets came through the  door and we  have a feast of  reading and talking about each others poems.  It was  an unusual and stimulating afternoon.  The poems were of a high quality and I was grateful to be included. 

I guess that writing poems and an occasional play is my form of dancing.  It is usually a solitary endeavor 
but this was a rare group experience.

Winter is  coming so there will be more wintry thoughts and moments in my days and more likely in my writing.  So get out your winter coats and boots and  prepare to enjoy what this season brings.