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Cups of Tea
Cups of tea increase our pleasure.
Moments that we cannot measure
Suddenly turn dark as coffee—
Are we craving English toffee?
Down we go, the house is shaking!
Moved by snow, there’s no mistaking
That an avalanche is sliding
Into places we’d be hiding
Were they splashed with gin or rum.
Aloud we pray: “Let no harm come!”
DISCLAIMER: This ditty is strictly the product of my overactive imagination.
© 2020 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Whirligig #249
More Writers’ Pantry #3 at Poets and Storytellers United
More The Whirligig #249
More Writers’ Pantry #3 at Poets and Storytellers United
Snow on the Pine Boughs

Pine boughs laden with snow in Apache County, Arizona.
Snow on the pine boughs, snow in the air!
Snow on the fox and raven and hare!
Snow in the valley, snow on the hill!
Snow on the rock, the ridge, and the rill!
Everywhere, everywhere snow is in sight!
Everything wears a blanket of white!
Nothing escapes the fingers of cold—
Winter is here, the world waxes old.
Poem © 2018 and photo © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Jump-Rope Rhymes
Whether you divide or add,
Snow’s not green, you silly dad.
Breeze beneath the bright blue sky,
Teach me how to multiply.
Poppies then and poppies now,
Poppies for my uncle’s cow.
If an orange could subtract,
We’d be doomed—now, that’s a fact!
Couplets © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #181
More Poetry Pantry #422 at Poets United
Weird Little Tales
winter afternoon—
a rich layer of new snow
blanketing the earth
~~ ~~ ~~
In weary silence
she gazes into the flames,
seeking an omen.
~~ ~~ ~~
nothing fancier
than her cream-colored straw hat
with its pink ribbon
~~ ~~ ~~
A wooden clothespin—
she touches it to her tongue
and then to her palms.
~~ ~~ ~~
Over her shoulder
she tosses a tangerine,
hoping for good luck.
~~ ~~ ~~
Spiteful old women
hurl curses at their husbands
for small transgressions.
~~ ~~ ~~
Through a small window
she sees the plural of goose
landing on the pond.
~~ ~~ ~~
A life for herself—
no more peeling potatoes,
she thinks with a sigh.
Haiku © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #146
More Poetry Pantry #388 at Poets United
Waiting

Lockett Meadow Campground, Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, autumn 2016
deepening autumn—
grasses among gold aspens
await the first snow
Haiku © 2017 and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
Snow

Dead mullein stalks, poking out of snow, northern New Mexico
first rooster crowing—
under a blanket of snow
three brown field mice stir
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Pierced

Pine tree, Japanese Friendship Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
hidden from all eyes
one snowflake pierced by needles
of the ancient pine
~~ ~~ ~~
Imagine snow nestling among the needles.
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “First Snow”
Unperturbed

Dead mullein stalks, poking out of snow, northern New Mexico
First rooster crowing—
a snowy mountain meadow
remains unperturbed.
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Blue Monday
More Poetry Pantry #235
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “First Rooster Crowing”
Family

El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico
loving family
even on snow-covered paths
no faltering steps
Text and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Blue Monday
More Carpe Diem: “Snow”
More Twelve Days of Mary at Recuerda Mi Corazon: Day 11
Blossoms

Our Lady of LaVang, El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico
Shrugging off the snow,
a Lady coaxes blossoms
from her hands and feet.
Text and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Carpe Diem: “Inspired by Richard Wright”
More Twelve Days of Mary at Recuerda Mi Corazon: Day 9