(Today is the last day of February so I will be blogging and posting for 32 straight days. Thank you, in advance, for your kind comments and thoughtful reflections!)
K-r-u-n-c-h! K-r-u-n-c-h! K-r-u-n-c-h! K-r-u-n-c-h!
Tracks in the snow show where I have stepped.
Soft snow covering treacherous ice.
Danger! Danger!
Coat zipped, hat on, scarf around my neck, gloves on hands and ice scraper ready.
18 degrees
S-c-r-a-p-e. S-c-r-a-t-c-h! Scrape,Scrape,Scrape!
Window on door cleared.
I tug on the door. It does NOT budge.
I tug AGAIN!
Scr-e-e-e-e-ch!
18 degrees
“How can this be?” I wondered. “Just yesterday it was 74 degrees.”
So cold.
“Can it get any worse?”
Eventually, windows cleared and I’m on the road.
“NNNNNN – N – N- O – O – O – O!
I slam on the brakes.
A deer strolls casually across the road!
So, slowly – barely inching across!
“Not a good morning! Do I continue on my way?”
18 degrees
“That darn deer should be holed up in a warm spot – not out for a morning walk!”
A dilemma
“Does she have any friends? Do I tempt fate by continuing on?”
“It’s okay. It’s daylight.” My self-talk is not very convincing.
“But does that mean MORE deer?”
It should be too cold for deer!
Off to work with miles to go . . . AND . . .
It’s obviously a “Deer Thirty Day”.
Caution, caution, caution . . .
On this 18 degree day, it’s obviously a “Deer Day”.
Not to be confused with a “Deere Day” . . .
Nor with D.E.A.R . . .
Deer, Deere, D.E.A.R . . .
All in a day’s travel to work!
How do you “PLAY” with words?
When do you intentionally have “FUN” with words?
Which words caught your attention?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Lanny, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum and the #SOLSC that runs from March 1 to the 31st. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
Resource - Full 
Boy, you captured the Iowa winter we’ve been having. Can you believe we went from 70 to blizzard conditions so quickly? I love the two voice style–even though they are both your voices. Fun way to try poetry.
Thanks, Deb!
It’s been crazy winter weather! I saw foot high daffodils last Thursday that were about a day away from blooming!
❤
Love your play with words, the photo, the organization of this poem. All the emotions that come with traveling in winter weather. Also read the Mark Twain quote at the top of your blog site and love it! Can’t wait to read more this month, Fran. I’m in for March, too!
So much fun with writing when we don’t rush the thinking, writing, or genre! Hard to remember that “production” isn’t the key . . . sense making must win out!
Thanks, Lynne. I’m looking forward to seeing where March and #SOLSC takes us! ❤
From Maine to Iowa, what happened to the brief Spring we thought would last and why are we so foolish as to forget the years before when winter stayed through May?
Exactly! Spring is a “fleeting thought” when it is still February but three consecutive days of 70 + degrees brought out foolish fancies!!! LOL!
So much fun Fran! This could be a picture book!
Which year?
Which deer?
Or maybe a book with chapters of the ones that scampered away or the ones that caused much anguish . . . and inconsiderate hours of work/time lost!
LOL
Thanks, Julieanne!
I love the format of this playful post. Sorry you are having this cold blast. But I enjoyed the onomatopoeia.
Thanks, Margaret. Of course, the weather could be much, much worse. But cold and deer on the same day. Not much fun! Trying to change my mindset – purposefully! ❤
Fun post, Fran. I agree, the deer should be cuddled up someplace nice and warm. I would be. We have had an usually warm February here in PA. Not much snow. I can live with that. Spring is right around the corner. Keep that thought.
Thanks! Deer or snow – one or the other would have been okay. But not both! Not that morning! ❤
Thank goodness you avoided them! I enjoyed the structure of your piece. It reflects the back and forth conversation you were having with yourself.
Thanks, Lisa. Sometimes I win those conversations with myself and other times, it’s just another voice!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
This is great, Fran! A “Deer Thirty Day” indeed! Thanks for sharing, and for the reminder to have fun. Sometimes (ok, often) I take this way too seriously.
Me, too, Catherine! It has to be fun!
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