Sisters in Winter by Joan Wiese Johannes

Sisters in Winter
by
Joan Wiese Johannes

I am building my winter nest,

ready to sink into blue pillows

and pull a gray blanket around myself.

You are in flight to Florida

to bake in the sun

in a pink spandex swimsuit.

All winter you will send emails

from your laptop while you lounge

by the pool.

If I answer, I will use a fountain pen

on flowered paper.

I will eat apples from the grocer.

You will pick oranges from a tree.

Next spring I will be rested,

my skin soft and white as my hair.

You will be energized,

hair dyed gold, your skin tan

as the gypsy you’ve always wanted to be.

You will bring me a straw hat

trimmed with a lime green scarf

llike the one you brought me last year.

I will serve you chocolates

from our favorite candy store.

You will only eat milk chocolate ones,
but I will still prefer the bitter kind.

From Myopic Nerve (2005).
This poem first appeared in Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf.
Used here with the author's permission.

Joan Wiese Johannes is retired from a rewarding and challenging career as an English teacher. The author of several poetry collections, she also composes music for Native American-style flute and includes it with her poetry readings. Joan believes that Thornton Wilder was right when he wrote that only poets and saints truly appreciate life while they are living it. Hardly a saint, Joan appreciates the life she shares with her poet/artist husband, Jeffrey, in Port Edwards, Wisconsin.

transitions:
Loved it...though I still yearn for Florida ~ in the shade.
Posted 01/19/2017 01:30 PM

jeanie:
north and nest is the way to go in winter! nice poem, Joan!
Posted 01/19/2017 12:23 PM

Jancan:
Very descriptive and touching. Janice
Posted 01/19/2017 12:09 PM

marilynfleming:
a lovely poem, Joan
Posted 01/19/2017 10:08 AM

Lori Levy:
Love the details chosen to portray the differences.
Posted 01/19/2017 09:23 AM

Janet Leahy:
I'm caught in this poem with the first line, the winter nest of blue pillows, how inviting! Thanks Joan.
Posted 01/19/2017 09:14 AM

mimi:
me too, Joan!
Posted 01/19/2017 06:58 AM

Sharon Waller Knutson:
I love this poem. Lovely images and wonderful insight that sisters, friends, daughters can choose different ways of aging and living and neither is wrong.
Posted 01/19/2017 06:23 AM

blueskies:
I have three sisters & this poem celebrates each of them.Truly shines!Thanks, Joan.
Posted 01/19/2017 05:57 AM

rhonasheridan:
I have three daughters and I love this clever poem.
Posted 01/19/2017 04:51 AM

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