In the 24-season syllabic poetry challenge, we are now at Part I, Early Cold (January 5 – 20) Shokan 小寒. I suppose even in Arizona this is true. We are now colder than we were. On my daily walks I wear a lightweight neck scarf, a thin cardigan, and a rain-type jacket. It is not really winter wear, but it is a far cry from the heat of our summers when I only want to wear the lightest sundress I can find.
This winter’s cold light,
crisp and startling, throws shadows
on glistening grass.
Have you seen the cat lady portraits by art photographer Brooke Hummer? Gorgeous and smart. https://apanational.org/inspiration/entry/brooke-hummer-cats-women-and-art/
The gardener and I have an anniversary on Friday. We have been married so long the kids need to plan a party for next year! Also in news: grand baby is coming in a little over three weeks! I’ve been working on my grandma name. Thinking of the Dutch “Bomma,” but still mulling.
I submitted the second section of my unpublished memoir to the Tucson Festival of Books contest. I received notice that it is a finalist for the contest. Last year the first section was a finalist in the same contest. I have been joking that I’m “always a bridesmaid,” although I am grateful that it is
Beautiful vision!
Thank you!!!
Congrats on anniversary and new grandbaby. I never heard of Dutch Bomma but that doesn’t mean much! 🙂 I’m off to see the cat lady’s work!
Oma is probably what you have heard. It’s also German. But Bomma is a Dutch name for Grandma, too. I can’t get the gardener interested in Grandpa names. He says the baby can call him Mr Castle. Hahaha. Hope you like the cat ladies!
Locally there are a lot of Mimi’s and Nana’s but in our family it’s Grammy. I’m Grammy Kate because my grands have 3 grandmothers. My sis-in-law’s brother wanted his grands to call him Sir Grandfather. (We thought Grand Puba would be appropriate!). This is fun. It’s the only time you get to pick your own name!
You have no idea how good those names are for the gardener. hahahahaha. My daughter wants to be Auntie Mimi, I think. Nana is a dog to me (Peter Pan movie). And I am not a Mimi or Gigi or any of those for sure. I do like Grammy Kate. Grammy was my MIL. And my grandmothers were Grandma, as well as my mother. I don’t like Bubbe.
Perhaps Bomma will win!
Beautiful.❤️🙏🏻
Thanks, Melissa!
Lovely!
Thank you, Jennie!
You’re welcome!
Mazel tov on your upcoming anniversary! And lots of good thoughts on the soon to arrive grandchild!
Thank you, Amy XO!
Beautiful poem, and mazel tov for your upcoming anniversary. I hope all goes smoothly with your grandbaby’s arrival!
Thank you, Merril. 3x thank you!!!
You’re welcome!
Wow – lots happening in your life to celebrate! Congratulations all around.
Thank you so much, VJ!
Happy Anniversary to you and the gardener!!
And the next three weeks will fly by…brace yourself for the most wonderful times for you and the gardener in your new life…and just fyi, save yourself the angst of thinking up your new “name”…you’ll be named by your grandchild when they struggle to learn the beautiful words you will teach them. I’m so excited for you!
Thank you!!!! 49 years! I get my halo or tiara next year haha. I am getting pretty excited!!!!
Be excited and congratulations on year number 49 – very rare nowadays it seems! Woohoo!!
So rare.
I love that art on your blog. I can’t find a place to comment. Are comments closed?
Oh gosh, Luanne. I hope I didn’t somehow close comments. I am struggling with my new theme stuff? This one came through but maybe because it was a page. Sigh. I will think about it tomorrow at Tara.
Maybe it’s me?!
Beautiful poem! Wishing you blessings with your brand-new grandbaby who will soon be here. The Dutch name for Grandma is quite cute.
Linda, thank you! I am getting pretty excited!!!!!!
It is very exciting!!! I am so happy for you! 🙂
Fabulous haibun, Luanne! Lots of cool news too. One of the cutest names for Gma was Nanners. I also liked Grandee. I was Nana. It all works and they will love you no matter what your name is. ❤️
Thanks, Colleen! Those are not me unfortunately. Very few are me. Bomma or Mumu are the closest so far.
I think those are cute! Mumu will be easy to say. Bomma will end us as “Omma,” which could be really cute too. Whatever you choose will be delightful for your family! xx
Perfect poem, Luanne.
Thank you, Anneli!
Super poem, Luanne. Your grandchild will name you. I still have no idea why my grandkids call me grandpa Jack
Thank you, Grandpa Jack! That’s a fun name!
It is.
I love your haiku, Luanne! The whole poem turns on the word “startling.” Well-done! Three weeks to wait for grandbaby? It won’t be long now!! I think others are right that your grandchild will decide what to call you. While my daughter was first learning to talk, she called my mother Bammaw. (My father was Bompa.)
Thanks, Liz! Yes, on startling!!! Bammaw! That’s similar to Bomma! And Bompa is the grandfather equivalent of Bomma, btw. I take it the idea was that was “baby talk” rather than an effort to use the Dutch names.
You’re welcome, Luanne! In Sonia’s case, she had delayed language development.
It proves that Bomma and Bompa are infant friendly names!
It does indeed!
Yes, that yard is inspiring! I enjoyed looking at the cat-women portraits, though I did not read the interview. Congrats on the anniversary and upcoming grandbaby! How exciting for you. Now, about your grandma name: I suspect you may not be the one to choose it!! 😁
That’s why they call him the gardener!!!! Hah. Thank you so much! I might not be the one to choose the name, but I know I will be calling myself something to the baby before he can ever talk. So I have to have something!
Luanne, image and poem simply perfect. Cat-lady photos very arty, congrats on your upcoming anniversary and the grandbaby. My little granddaughter calls me Grammalisa 🙂
Grammalisa is cute! If I name was cute I could do something like that, but ick. Thanks for the congrats, Lisa!
Congrats on the grandbaby and on your anniversary!!! How exciting. Enjoy!
Thank you soooooooo much!!!
I love that poem and photo! I love the shadows cast by the oblique light of winter.
How exciting re: your anniversary, new family member, and new role! I would love to try on “Gramma.” “Bomma” is a great too!
Thank you! Aw, yeah, I know. I had wondered if it was ever going to happen, so now it is happening. Feels unreal!
Happy Anniversary and congratulations on the impending Gramma-hood!
Thank you, Clare!!!! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Luanne, good to read your news and poetry again.
Happy New Year, Andrea! Hope you post a new blog post soon!
I love your poem, Luanne! And that tree is stunning! Happy anniversary and congrats on the new grandbaby!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you all the way around!
Winter light is startling–well said.
And congratulations on all counts!
Thank you so much on all counts!
Congratulations on your anniversary, your recent publication, and impending grand motherhood! I just became a grandma two days ago and chose the name Mimmie, what my French Canadian grandmother called herself. Not Mimi which sounds more French, but Mimmie, which she spelled phonetically in keeping with her 4th grade education.
Congratulations, Ellen!!! Mimmie is so cute!! Hope all went well with the birth and all!
Happy Anniversary! And congratulations on your publication. I also love your tanka 🙂 Have fun coming up with a grandmother name. Remember, the kid will likely call you by it for the rest of their life so … make it a good one 😉
That is why it’s taking me so long to come up with a name! What is good for a baby isn’t necessarily great to be called when the kid is 12. Thank you!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful poem, and it’s perfect to begin your anniversary celebration! 😊
Thank you so much, Gwen! We had a lovely anniversary!
Pingback: Recap: 24 Seasons Poetry Challenge No. 15, Part II, Early Cold (January 5 – 20) Shokan 小寒 – Tanka Tuesday
A lovely image and poem and wonderful news all round many congratulations 💜💜
Hey Luanne, your TankaTuesday contribution is fantastic! The imagery of winter’s cold light, casting shadows on glistening grass, paints such a vivid picture. Also, congratulations on your upcoming anniversary and the soon-to-arrive grandbaby! 🎉
~David
So many blessings!! I’m just ‘Grama’ – half the time I can’t remember if I include a second ‘m’ 😉
…not that I need any but this September, we’ll be ‘Sapphires’.
Long winter shadows… When we are lucky enough to have the sun visit 🙂
Stunning shadows – captured 💞Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne!