While
walking
the gardens
at night, low light,
we’re glassed in & warm.
Breathing in moist exhales
of plants while wind screes outside,
to satisfy keen need for green.
Warm-loved glow of together time,
silent songs, priceless sense of belonging.
Chimes say closing time; the spell is broken.
Son and wife bundle precious daughter,
bracing for crunch-cold walks to cars
“Bye, Grammalisa.” She waves.
I lean in back window:
“I – Love – You,” say/sign.
Separate ways
through flurried
winter
snow.
Notes:
These etheree are about meeting up with my two sons, younger son’s wife, and my toddler granddaughter at Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. In winter, we stay inside and walk through the various climate types of gardens and usually end up in the enormous terrarium tropical garden. As William Shakespeare said, “parting is such sweet sorrow” as we part ways in the parking lot and drive off in different directions.
I wrote a classic then reverse etheree. The classic Etheree poem consists of ten lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. An Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Kigo used: great snowstorms (flurried winter snow,) indoor pleasures (visiting indoor botanical gardens,) bundling up, (green)house plants, the need for green.
Colleen Chesebro is the host of TankaTuesday. Colleen says:
Your syllabic poetry writing invitation is to choose a kigo word or phrase from the seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the Winter or Summer category (depending on which hemisphere you live in) from the world kigo database on the kigo word list links below.
Tao Talk 
This is wonderful, Lisa. I love this form and should try it more often.
Grammalisa is so sweet a name!
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Dale I just got home from another drive over to “the gardens” to meet up with them (minus older son, who couldn’t get out of work early.) Today, she told me she missed me multiple times and, “Gramma I love you so much.” I thought my heart would burst with happiness.
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Awww… How can it not?
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Warms you up just reading it!
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Happy it warmed you up, Randy :)
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So much love in this. I too love Grammalisa. (K)
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:) <3
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Such a lovely and heartwarming poem Li. I love grandma Lisa
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Sadje, thank you. She is my new best buddy and makes the world a brighter place <3
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That is what grand babies do. They become your best friends 😍😍😍
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What a cool thing. You are warm with green all around you and look out and there is snow. What a cool feeling that is….well or warm feeling in this case.
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:) I went over and met them this afternoon and the place was almost empty. So different than it was around Christmas time. We had the place to ourselves and she loved it. We found a library in the basement and I read her a book. She is a sharp little cookie.
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That is great…that looks like a great place to have a visit with the family. What a feeling to be there and have that all around you.
I bet she is.
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When I first started reading, I pictured such a lovely indoor garden on your patio. Walking in a garden park with sculptures sounded so beautiful, too. What a great experience for young ones – as well as those who are young at heart! :)
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It really is a welcoming place to hang out.
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It looks like it! Exposure to beauty is a wonderful gift to your family.
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This is very heartwarming 💚
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<3 It sure brightens my day to spend time there with the fam.
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This beautiful as a grandma too I get it 💜💜
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Willow, thanks! <3
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A pleasure 💜😌
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This is beautiful, Li. Truly. It’s a heartwarming story told through a poem. ❤️
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Gwen, much appreciated <3
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Your Etheree is beautiful, Lisa! I’ve been to that park. It’s absolutely gorgeous! The sculptures are incredible.
Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Yvette, so awesome you’ve been there. Thank you :)
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I love this Lisa and it flows beautifully 💞
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Ange, thanks! <3
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This is so lovely, one I would want to print and frame as a memory poem 💞
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<3 Thank you so much. Good idea.
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This Etheree and reverse Etheree really made my day. I love your little granddaughter. How sweet she calls you GrammaLisa. Very cute. The winter details (kigo words) made this poem feel intimate, like we’re sharing this time with you. I like it.
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Colleen, happy you enjoyed the read, thank you :)
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You’re so welcome.
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Lisa, the transition from the warm, cherished moments to the cold, snowy departure adds a poignant touch to your verses, and your closing lines really resonate with me… <3
~David
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Thanks, David!
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You have reminded me that we have an area that we could visit – that has several indoor buildings, including a butterfly garden which I believe is open all year round.
That might made for a nice outing with hubby.
Our grands are at the point where their sports or friends come first. Double digit ages can be like that. But it is nice when the whole family can get together.
Glad you were able to capture such a ‘grand’ memory in your verse.
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Jules, I hope you and hubby do visit your garden. It can be rejuvenating to breathe in all of that fresh plant-produced air.
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The cost is about two times a single Tuesday movie discount ticket. And I’m sure we would spend at least the length of a movie there :)
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It can be pricey if you go just once in awhile — but totally worth it. Maybe if you and hubby like it you’ll buy annual membership…
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…anything is possible. :)
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Very well written.
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Thanks!
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Lovely poetry Lisa :D I enjoyed it!
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thanks, CA!
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