One is Loved, One is Hated

The steady all-day
tap tap tap
of rain
on drought-parched
land
and roofs

The steady all-day
plunk plunk plunk
of rain
on flood-drenched
land
and roofs

*****
by Lori Lipsky
photo: Okea/istockphoto

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat, 1884, oil on canvas

The Demanding Wife
by Lori Lipsky
 
Get me to Chicago
for A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

Take me to Chicago
—to the island— for Seurat

If we can’t transport to '84
if you won’t fly me to Grand Paris, then

drive me to Chicago
to the Institute of Art—

the museum in Chicago, for
A Sunday with Seurat
 

After Mother’s Day

robins will get their worm
flowers will have their turn
eternal winter will finish firm—
after Mother’s Day

No Doubt

Before the end of
Winter Eternal
the robins sang
a deceptive song

crocuses poked
up their greens
the Midwest smiled, then
more snow fell…and more

but Midwesterners know
without a doubt
eternity ends
without a doubt

and it’s safe to plant
without a doubt
since winter dies
until next year

without a doubt—
after Mother’s Day
*****

I was raised in southern Wisconsin, and I descend from a line of Iowan farmers. Growing up I learned that it’s never safe to plant until after Mother’s Day (and even then, you might be smart to wait a bit). These two poems are dedicated to my northern friends who’ve experienced snow this week. ~Lori

photo:Tobias Keckel/istockphoto

heavy spring rain

soaks last year’s flowerbed—

thirsty bulbs

*****

by Lori Lipsky

I’m over at the Barn Door dreaming and writing about roses from a Midwestern perspective. Click here to see my photos of roses from Sonoma County, CA and Portland, Oregon, the City of Roses.

I can’t wait to see roses around my Wisconsin neighborhood. It’s been an almost-eternal winter, but it won’t be long now…the crocus and tulip greens are up in front of my house.

Your comments over at the Barn Door are appreciated. Thank you friends for your support! ~Lori

Related links you may enjoy:

Monet’s Grainstacks in Bright Sunlight

Van Gogh’s Blossoming Almond Branches

Boating on the Yerres (Caillebotte)

Turquoise or Teal or Whatever by Lori Lipsky

We used to call the color turquoise
then fashion changed to teal

Teal tips green, style said green
until it tottered back toward blue

Trends lean now to turquoise again
or maybe the fad has faded out

Wave wet wands, add some white
and aqua takes command

Change your wardrobe, paint your walls
replace your underwear!

It's aqua now, until teal returns
but must I care?

***** 
photo credit: iStockphoto/A.Hopkins

You may also like:
A Threat of a Colorful Day
Morning Floats By, Haiku
Thoughts of Travel

The Widow on the Block

The red of her door says welcome
open blinds indicate she’s home

She knows the name of every neighbor
keeps cookies and snacks at the ready

She invites us over
at every opportunity

but usually we just wave
as we drive by—

the children keep
tight schedules

by Lori Lipsky, April 2013
photo: JoLin/iStockphoto

Haiku 21


On my countertop
Beckoning to a late spring—
Two greenhouse tulips
*****
by Lori Lipsky
March 2013, Wisconsin
photo: istockphoto/S847