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Poetry Friday: The Queen of In-Between

On a recent lunchtime walk, we were greeted by this wonderful figure, and I knew the moment I saw her that I would have to write a poem about her. 


Picture of a snowman on green grass with small patches of snow. The snowman has a brown maple leaf on it's head like a crown. The poem reads: Formed from winter’s first snowfall, crowned in autumn’s faded glory, she reigns between seasons — over squirrels who hurry-hurry-hurry to gather moss for lining nests, over birds who block out wintery chills with fluffed-out feathers on their chests, over crocuses and primroses that sleep and wait for spring. Winter’s frosts nip at her kingdom,  harbingers of change, but right now she rules the landscape: the Queen of In-Between. © 2021, Elisabeth Norton

We've been enjoying the signs of the changing seasons on our walks - including a first for us: watching a squirrel gather and shape a round bundle of moss, before scampering off to presumably bring it to its nest. 

Our Poetry Friday host today is Cathy over at Merely Day by Day. Like her, I find myself dipping in and out of Poetry Friday as life and other commitments permit, and she captures this perfectly in her poem.  Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet today. I hope you'll wander over to Cathy's blog for a roadmap to all the poetic goodness that awaits you this week. 

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Comments

  1. Irene LathamDecember 10, 2021 at 1:48 PM

    The Queen of In Between makes me smile! I'm so glad you wrote a poem about her. :)

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  2. Janice ScullyDecember 10, 2021 at 2:34 PM

    Something about snow people and I love the idea of them presiding over outdoor life, this one at an in-between time.

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  3. Janice ScullyDecember 10, 2021 at 2:35 PM

    Something about snow people and I love the idea of them presiding over outdoor life, this one at an in-between time.

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  4. CathyDecember 10, 2021 at 3:06 PM

    I love this little glimpse of in-between. There's something about these intersections of time I find fascinating. Your first stanza captures it perfectly.

    Yes, I'm glad we have both managed to find our way into the Poetry Friday world in December. I'm guessing it's a good sign we have the bandwidth currently.

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  5. Linda BDecember 10, 2021 at 3:07 PM

    Echoing Irene, Elisabeth. We have our "first" snow today, not even enough to create our own "queen of in between" but your name will linger with me now! I love all her subjects!

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  6. TabathaDecember 10, 2021 at 3:49 PM

    Charming!

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  7. jamaDecember 10, 2021 at 4:24 PM

    Love the Queen of In-Between -- wonderful images and reflections. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. RuthDecember 10, 2021 at 9:05 PM

    Wonderful Queen of In-Between!

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  9. Tim KulpDecember 10, 2021 at 9:18 PM

    The Queen of In-between is so fun! Nice work! I really enjoyed the poem and picture. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. JoneDecember 11, 2021 at 2:51 AM

    Love the-queen-of-in-between is perfect. I love that winter 's frost nips.

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  11. Bridget MageeDecember 11, 2021 at 12:26 PM

    The 'in-between' is where we all seem to be these days, Elisabeth. So glad you crossed paths with this Ice Queen and she inspired your poem.

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  12. Mary LeeDecember 11, 2021 at 12:40 PM

    I love her! And I love the playful hands who made her, and your imagined life for her! We had a brief cold snap, but I woke up this morning to the mid 60s.

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  13. Linda MitchellDecember 11, 2021 at 1:45 PM

    What a wonderful observation and resulting poem. This kind of poem is so perfect for kids. I love it!

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  14. sycDecember 12, 2021 at 12:19 AM

    Perfectly captured the in-between

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  15. Alan j WrightDecember 12, 2021 at 12:25 AM

    Keen observation often leads to inspiration, Elisabeth. Your poem is testimony to this. Great get on your part- words and image combined to deliver a moment well and truly captured forever.

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  16. laurasalasDecember 12, 2021 at 12:56 PM

    This is so lovely--great extended metaphor!

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  17. Heidi MordhorstDecember 12, 2021 at 10:38 PM

    That's a wonderful title!

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  18. Carol VarsalonaDecember 13, 2021 at 4:43 PM

    I enjoyed your Queen of In-Between poem and the humorous remains of the snowman. He appears to be jolly with his leaf/dirt mixture. First two sentences of the poem brings a great visual to mind but the photo enhances your poem. I'm sorry this comment is coming so late. I read your poem earlier. Happy Holidays, Elisabeth.

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