JoAnn Early Macken

JoAnn's Blog

What Do You See?

December 22, 2022

When I started thinking about this post, Southeastern Wisconsin was expecting an enormous blizzard. I saw predictions of 14-18" of snow, then 4-8," and then 1-3." As of Thursday evening, winds are howling and the temperature is dangerously low, but all we see here is a dusting of snow. We'll keep looking out the window.

No doubt, climate change is making weather forecasting more difficult. I feel sorry for meteorologists!

Be sure to check out all the Poetry Friday goodness at Live Your Poem with Irene Latham. Enjoy!

8 Comments

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Dec 22, 2022 11:16 PM EST

Stay warm! Everyone is waiting for the '"Bomb cyclone" I think, and getting anxious, while we look out the window. Stay warm up there in Wisconsin!

- Janice Scully

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 23, 2022 9:19 AM EST

As of this morning, the snow appears to have missed us, thank goodness. It's just awfully cold. We need to figure out how to improvise some dog booties--poor Rosy goes out the door, turns around, and comes right back!

Dec 23, 2022 6:59 AM EST

I hope you are able to stay safe and warm. This cold is no joke! I think it's ok that there's something that keep weather forecasters on their toes--it's probably what makes things fun for them ;)

- Linda Mitchell

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 23, 2022 9:26 AM EST

Oh, I hope weather forecasters enjoy the challenge! At least we were prepared for the cold on its way. And even some sunshine! It's been awfully gray and dreary here, and the light helps a lot!

Dec 23, 2022 8:25 AM EST

Ha! Yes, the limitations of weather forcasting. I adore how your poem ends, JoAnn. Thank you! xo

- Irene Latham

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 23, 2022 9:28 AM EST

Thank you, Irene! A bit of frustration went into that line, too, but we are relieved (and lucky!) to be safe and warm.

Dec 23, 2022 10:05 AM EST

Lol! Yes, here in the Sierras we say: "Don't like the weather? Wait 10 minutes; it'll change." Very fun poke at the weather forecasters, Joann!

- PATRICIA J FRANZ

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 23, 2022 2:18 PM EST

Thank you, Patricia! Yes, I expect weather will be changing more often and more drastically in the future. I hope we can all be prepared for it!

Dec 23, 2022 10:40 AM EST

I love your thinking. I am at the bookstore every Thursday & watched the weather until I became very anxious about getting there. Actually, though so cold, it wasn't much worse than any other snowy day, a few inches. It was bad in some places like the highways! I feel sorry for the weather people, too! Merry Christmas, JoAnn!

- Linda Baie

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 23, 2022 2:20 PM EST

Thank you, Linda! We just looked out the window and saw some neighbors shoveling our sidewalk--what a nice surprise! Merry Christmas to you and yours, too! xox

Dec 23, 2022 3:25 PM EST

You nailed it! "Look out the window." (Looking out the window is just about all I need to know about a -28 degree wind chill. One quick trip to the garbage can with cat waste taught me that!!)

- Mary Lee

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 24, 2022 4:49 PM EST

Thanks, Mary Lee! I know what you mean. I made a quick trip to drop off cookies for a couple of neighbors and hurried home as fast as I could. Lucky for us, the forecasters predict gradually warming temperatures over the next week. I hope they're right!

Dec 23, 2022 5:16 PM EST

Fun poem Joann, with a lovely rhythm, I like your ending words too,
"look out the window and see what you see."
It's bitter cold here in Chicago too, howling winds, and not much snow.
Keep warm and Happy Holidays!

- Michelle Kogan

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 24, 2022 4:51 PM EST

Thank you, Michelle! Happy holidays to you and yours, too!

Dec 23, 2022 10:49 PM EST

JoAnn, this poem is just what we need for this time of year. Climate change is real. Today was supposed to be torrential storms and that was true in the morning but then, the sun came out and the rains stopped. This was great for us because my family went to the Santa Experience at the local resort. I really enjoyed your poem. Stay warm.

- Carol Varsalona

Reply by JoAnn on Dec 24, 2022 4:53 PM EST

Thank you, Carol! The sun made a brief appearance here today, too. We've missed it a lot lately. I'm glad your family got to go out and have fun!

Day 1: What's with the Weather? & Book Giveaway #1

April 1, 2018

Tags: Book Giveaway, National Poetry Month, Write a Poem Step by Step, weather

I woke up this morning, grabbed a cup o' coffee, checked the weather forecast, and changed my plan for today’s post.

The weather here’s a little cool.
Is this a joke? If so, it’s cruel!
I’m wrapping up in layers, hoping
someone will say, “April Fool!”

I'm celebrating National Poetry Month by giving away a copy of Write a Poem Step by Step every day in April. The book is based on my school visit presentations and includes a simple plan you can follow to create your own poems. I wrote it for students, teachers, and writers of all ages.

Post a comment here to enter. I'll choose one winner at random and drop a copy of Write a Poem Step by Step in the mail—U.S. addresses only, please. I’ll email you for your mailing address if you win. And if you don't win right away, please check back again. I'll have 31 copies to share!

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JoAnn Early Macken

JoAnn's Blog

What Do You See?

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Day 1: What's with the Weather? & Book Giveaway #1

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