WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

February 2, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 5

THE LOVE OF POETRY

Winston Weekly will have monthly themes this year, although that was not my intention when I started the year. Kansas City’s near-record January snowfall inspired the “snow theme,” but it is time to move past the snow! February is sometimes called the month of love, so this week is the love of poetry.

Relocating during the height of the pandemic resulted in my writing my yet-to-be-published book, Snow Shadows: Pictures, Poetry, and Perspectives. Being isolated in a way I had never been, and living in an apartment for the first time in thirty years provided the perfect opportunity to turn to poetry. My favorite writing spot became Mother Earth Coffee, one of the few places open during the first year of the pandemic. In addition to poetry, I learned many cultures and new foods, and pondered the overused question and response: “How are you?” “I’m fine, you?”

The small group at Mother Earth Coffee quickly pivoted from the overused question and response to profound conversations. Many of us came to “unload our wagons,” leading me to write this poem.

The Wagon

They don’t ask and I don’t say.

What my wagon carries today.

We pass as we always do.

“How are you”?

“I’m fine.

“And you?”

But on any given day,

the wagon carries shame.

Regrets. Hurt.

Things one can’t say.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Although most of us are likely familiar with Haiku, Sonnet, and Limerick poetry, there are more than 150 types of poetry.  John Carey’s 2021 book, A Little History of Poetry, is a wonderful way to learn the stories behind the world’s greatest poems. For those interested in the journey of love, check out Emily Bird’s 2023 poetry book, This Made Me Think of You.

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.