Too Old for Chills

Originally published in Volney Road Review issue 4.2

Too Old For Chills

It must be cold out-

Becky sits at the glass back door,

staring, but won't stray out

to threaten thieving squirrels

chase them through crumpled canna lilies

even if she might find a rabbit crouched there.

but our feathered wings still like fast food dive-ins

except when squirrels pretend to fly

The feeder hangs empty, tilted,

and there’s only Becky and me

but Becky’s not bashful, and she’s telling me it's cold out.

I had a sweater here somewhere-

The squirrels will have to find their own food today

it's cold out-and we're too old for chills.

Reviews

[Stuart Munro]

I love this Poem , I read loads of poems , then you find a writer with a gift a poem that takes you there

[W. Barrett Munn]

I was shocked when this was accepted for publication because it’s so simple. Glad you liked it, Stuart.

[Gee]

Really like this piece. I see in your reply to Christine that this took 6 months of writing and editing, you must be a patient, persistent poet.
I have a cocker spaniel that loves water but will not go out in the rain unless busting for a pee :)

[W. Barrett Munn]

Thanks for the kind words, Gee. I began writing by taking a correspondence course and writing short stories for younger readers in magazines like Child Life and many others so trying to make my work perfect is second nature- revise over and over. Sometimes it comes together fast; most times it doesn’t.
So you see I write for myself but always with the idea of writing something worthy of publication, unless practicing iambic tetrameter or is that tetramegrr!

[Chris Shaw]

It may be cold out, but it sounds warm inside. Some things are better viewed through glass. Happy Tuesday Bill.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Hi, Chris. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Although simple, this took about 6 months and dozens of revisions to get to this point. I always liked the way Mary Oliver explained this: "Try to seem simple. But don't be simple."

[Chris Shaw]

Sorry Winston. Got your name mixed up. It's old age you know. I understand what you are saying. I have done similar on some of my shorter poems, revised over abd over again till I am happy with it. I like that Mary Oliver quote.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Cozy little read. Winter is always better from the warm side of looking glass.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Hello Arkansas buddy,

Thanks for reading. I wrote this basic idea one morning with my own terrier (Abby) standing at our back door. It took a lot of reworkings until it all seemed to piece together correctly.

[Cherrie Palmer]

terrier= Even better: I had pictured a
a little scotty

[W. Barrett Munn]

She is a rescue that looks like the pictures of a Glen of Imaal terrier a type of Irish terrier