Slice of Life Challenge day 14 #sol17

Eternal Winter

by Lanny Ball

Storm warning

Again

Eugene approaches

White blankets will fall

Winter roaring its terrible roar

Gnashing its terrible teeth

Chilling breath bearing down

Not to be denied

Rudely shoving June

Further into summer’s courtyard

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Accumulation out my front window 7:15 a.m. on March 14th. Notice the top of the planter on the bottom left…just getting started.

* To all in the Northeast and everywhere, stay warm and safe!

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Author: Lanny Ball

For more than 29 years, Lanny has taught, coached, presented, staff developed, and consulted within the exciting and enigmatic world of literacy. With unyielding passion and belief in the possibility of workshop teaching, Lanny has worked to support students, teachers, and school administrators around the country in outgrowing themselves as both writers and readers. Working first as a classroom teacher, then as a coach and TCRWP Staff Developer, Lanny is now a literacy specialist, working and living in the great state of Connecticut. Outside of literacy, he enjoys raising his three ambitious young daughters with his wife, and playing the piano. Find him on this blog, as well as on Twitter @LannyBall. Lanny is also a former co-author of a blog dedicated to supporting writing teachers and coaches that maintain classroom writing workshops, twowritingteachers.org.

15 thoughts on “Slice of Life Challenge day 14 #sol17”

  1. I love the personification of the storm in your poem, especially the line “not to be denied”. We’ve had an unseasonably warm winter here in Austin, and just slid back to cooler temps the last few days–not the Spring Break we are used to. We haven’t had an average temperature yet this month! Hope you stay warm and safe today.

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  2. Love the line, “rudely shoving June further into summer’s courtyard.” – It evokes strong imagery and emotion. Good for you for being vulnerable and posting a slice outside of your comfort zone.

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  3. Greetings from snowy west-of-Boston! Bravo on your poem. Well done. I’m new to writing poetry and slicing, too, so I love it when Slicers share their vulnerabilities. Of course this Kindergarten teacher/Max fan was immediately drawn to “gnashing its terrible teeth.” Stay warm and be safe!

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  4. Great verbs and a wonderful ending line. Unfortunately, winter is also “rudely pushing” the school calendar into July! Thanks for taking a risk — I hope to see more of your poetry.

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  7. Your little nod to Wild Things settled nicely into your poem Lanny. Particularly liked the strong ending. Poets needs to finish strongly. You have done this. Poetry like all forms of writing is essentially practice. Keep taking yourself into the zone as you have today. You have been a brave writer. Well worth sharing with less experienced student writers. They need to see we are risk takers too.

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    1. Thanks for that feedback, Allen. I’ve honestly never given much thought to the notion that poetry, like everything, takes practice. I’d kind of written myself off as a poet. But now…anyway, I appreciate your encouragement. Thanks 🙂

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