Friday, February 21, 2020

Poetry Friday: Oh, February



Oh, February.

You have a terrible but well-deserved reputation. You are the longest shortest month; we all complain about you. You're the insufferable supervisor who constantly calls unnecessary meetings that drag on hours after everything that needed to be said was said. We can't wait for you to adjourn.

If you're having that kind of February, check out Jill Osier's "February."  It captures the essence of the month perfectly. My favorite lines:

Oh, I am sick. I fade, I fall, 
I curse this month, all it wants 

to be. Its lot is the same 
each time, unthawed.

Honestly, though, I can't complain much about our February this year. (And yet I do.) February 2020 is, overall, warmer than normal (if you don't count that -4 degree reading yesterday morning, and you ignore averaging.) There's only a week and a day of it left (not that I'm counting.) And at least Ash Wednesday didn't fall on Valentine's Day this year. (There's always something to be said for that.)

Still.

It's almost over, thank goodness, other than that tricky extra day next weekend. (It seems a cruelty to tack an extra day onto February, of all months, doesn't it? Whose warped idea was that anyway? Why don't we get an extra day in June??)

I'm reminded of a February haiku I wrote years ago:

February fades,
Like a guest who stayed too long.
Shut the door, and sigh.

Just one more week! (And a day.)

~~~~~~~~~~

23 comments:

jama said...

Hear, hear. One more week. Strangely enough, this month has felt long and short at the same time.

Ruth said...

I love February, because it's my birthday month. And also, we have some days off next week for Carnival! :-)

Tamara said...

You are so funny. I have actually had a good February, for once, but I can't say I'm not looking forward to it's end. But, only because it gets us that muc closer to my favorite time of year... SPRING!

Linda B said...

Ha, ha, love it. We had that 'extra warming' in January, now our February we wished were over has been snow about every other day! It's in the fifties today, waking up to snow tomorrow! Your post is wonderful Karen, like a fun op-ed! "Shut the door, and sigh."

Ramona said...

Your haiku is perfect. No snow for us this month, just days and days of rain. Until this past week . . . when we were blessed with glorious sunshine. I'm always glad when that happens on mid-winter break for the folks who can't vacation in Hawaii.

Cheriee Weichel said...

I love February. It helps that we now have a statutory holiday and long weekend in the middle of it, but here where I live, February is the month when green shoots and snowdrops reminds us that Spring is on it's way!

Linda Mitchell said...

Awwww. It was nice to see February on a visit anyway. Nice haiku!

Kay said...

February does seem grey and interminable. Here's to looking forward to fresh growth and green.

Karen Edmisten said...

Jama, yes! I hear you about the long-and-short at the same time! :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Happy birthday, Ruth! And yay for Carnival and days off! :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Cheers to good Februarys (Februaries?) and to springtime! :D

Karen Edmisten said...

Linda, we've had lots of that back-and-forth, too. -4 the other day, a walk outside in very spring-y weather yesterday! I'm ready for a steady stream of spring-y days. :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Thanks, Ramona! I'm glad for you that you got that glorious sunshine!

Karen Edmisten said...

Long live green shoots and snowdrops, Cheriee!

Karen Edmisten said...

Thanks, Linda! Happy Last Week of February!

Karen Edmisten said...

I second your forward look, Kay! :)

Karen Eastlund said...

When I lived in Mpls, February often felt interminable. Not so much this year in nJ. But... I hear you! And I had to laugh at "why not an extra day in June?" I hope the blahs end soon for you. Sighing...

author amok said...

I hope you're feeling better, Karen. February is my birthday month (as it is for many people in my family), so the snow and gray and cold feel cozy to me.

michelle kogan said...

I love your haiku Karen it fits February so perfectly. I'm ready, bring on Spring– but snows coming tonight first, sigh. I also like the idea of adding on an extra day in June, let's do it, thanks!

Karen Edmisten said...

So glad you're having a good February in NJ, Karen! It's time for me to stop grousing ... they're predicting 60 degrees here in a few days! :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Happy birthday! :) My father's birthday is in February, too, so that's always fun to celebrate. :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Michelle, here's hoping the snow melts quickly and that spring is soon on its way to you. Let's start a movement for a June 31st! :)

Carol Varsalona said...

Karen, I enjoyed both poems that you shared today. February has its sweet day and a day of ashes. while it is cold today, there has been no snow.