i know how you feel. there are also 2 seasons over here: wet, and dry 
. at the moment, it's very dry.
the other day i also wrote a "nature" poem, something about a field of grass and am debating whether to submit to a e-journal or post in my blog.
i love the title, and btw, is that a rain tree in your photo?
Completely beautiful.
Not sure I would be 'comfortable' in an environment where there was no winter. It is an integrated part of my biorhythms, lol. And although it might be an acquired taste through years of living with it, it was nice to see him presented as a sensitive caring entity concerned with the life of small green growing things. Here in Wisconsin, he is a call to draw within, to get quiet, even introspective, and to learn how to listen to the sound of one's own breathing. A different type of sensitivity perhaps?
Love the poem.
Sorry, meant to also add that I love the photo. There are few things as satisfying as lying beneath a tree and watching the cloud action behind its branches. That sense of floating, not being grounded...
so musical
and
supple
snap
crackle
pop!
I heard that even trees have a preferred temperature of mid 70s...
this makes me smile - winter bowing to warmth - to me it reads like a love letter to the Philippines as much as a nature poem - with an equally beautiful photo to boot!
With an adroitness that I have come to expect and appreciate, you personify winter and show us that it has a heart and a conscience, as far as the Philippine Islands are concerned! Your poem is perfect in its ease, drawing strength from phrasing and word choices. So lovely, S.L.
The photo is breathtaking. Wish I could stand under those branches right now!
Dsnake, oh, you recognize it! It's a rain tree, all right, locally known here as acacia. Actually, there are two acacia trees in this photo (I was standing between two giants when I took the snapshot); their branches have met in a way that, in this photo or even in person, I couldn't tell exactly where one tree's reach ends. By the way, I hope all goes well with your decision about your own nature poem. Cheers.
Jo, I'm honored.
Elizabeth, yeah, a winter poem written by someone from the tropics, about winter being absent from the tropics -- the perspective interested me. (chuckle) My approach was along the way of myths, legends, and folktales (though I haven't read or heard of any such tale about this particular topic); hence the personification. Glad to hear that you like the poem and the photo (I love cloud-gazing; there's always a measure, a sensation, of being freed, with the simple physical act of looking up at the sky).
Kat, good to know. Many thanks for appreciating the sounds in this piece.
Joaquin, I'm glad this poem has had a cathartic effect on you. (Your comment made me smile, too.)
K., thank you for your generous words as regards the wordplay. (blush) And for your compliment with regard to the photo. (grin)
I'm also from a country with two seasons, rainy and dry. Thanks for the nature poem, it reminded me of home.
This is wonderful! I love the blend of nature and legend that you have created.
Beautiful picture and, as always, a beautiful poem. There are many wonderful images in this poem. And again, the sounds are musical.
The personification of winter is so wonderful here. I love "Stopped by dread/in its tracks, Winter slunk/backwards..."
I'm also always impressed by poets who are multi-talented. I'm a horrible photographer. Can't play an instrument. My paintings look like a little kid did them. Well, okay...a kid would be a better artist than I am
Your pictures are wonderful and look professional. Have you been taking pictures for a long time? Or are you just a natural talent?
Thanks for the beautiful read and visual treat.
This is just gorgeous.
Thank you so much for your kind words on my blog, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you.
Very glad to find this place though.
Hi, I've left an award for you over on my Thoughts site, please stop by, http://turtonsarah.blogspot.com/ to collect. Really lovely blog.)
Although I live in a very different climate (Dorset, in England) I know that way a season seems to be coming, then draws back.
Mary Sharpe
HUGH AND CAMELLIA
lovely. i felt the change of the season in the pacing of the words and the word play. thanks.
S.L., this has touched me in so many ways, now I'm feeling homesick. super galing!
makes me want to put my face to the wind
wow! i liked the fluidity of this one!
The trees and the opening in the sky above form a marvelous image. The poem speaks to me, too. I especially like to see Winter personified. In the places I have lived it has always been the most bracing and challenging and threatening of seasons. The other seasons have their storms and events but winter... on a clear, ordinary, peaceful day winter reminds me that what protects me from hardship and possible death is a thin layer of material, some personal resources, luck, grace, trade, cooperation.
There is a heart-rending lilt to this poem; a conceit that carries the reader beyond personification to a personal landscape. Very beautiful. Thanks and cheers!
new excerpts from a prose post over at my place if you have a second
It's just me saying hello. I miss seeing your new poems, but I still love reading the ones posted. Beautiful I hope you're doing well.
Enchanting~
Where are you? I miss you. I've read this poem too many times now ... I hope that you haven't been around here because you are so happy, that you can't bear to tear yourself away from your life.
I found it kinda funny that you've written about winter when right where I'm at, the wind's almost burning.
Great piece still. I missed this place.
You would think you'd lived all your life knowing the winter season Like the way you give winter a conscience - a desire to hold back from the damage it usually does. Most enjoyable read as always SL.
Fantastic photo as well. I too love looking up through the tree tops...
Hello Poet,
I was wondering if you know what of your poems have been translated to other languages, if they have at all? I mean, is there a poem that seems to be the favorite one?
Anita
sl you have been gone too long - as you can see we miss you - and await your return -I pray all is so very well with you - we hope to see your smiling words again soon
SL...what did you do? Go looking for winter and get lost in some sort of unholy blizzard? Patience is supposed to be its own reward, but its not working.
Can only hope you are okay and that all is well.
Elizabeth
I regularly check to see if you have returned. We miss you. I hope that you have just been too busy.
Another hand up from over here hoping to see you back soon. Cheers.
Me, too. S.L., I miss you. I don't care if you visit my site...ever. I swear. I just want to see you here. I hope you're doing well. Thinking of you with best wishes.
Cocoyea, Mary, Maggie, thank you for sharing.
Rachel, Anna, Selchie, Kim, Figgy, Crimson, thanks!
Julie, I also do a bit of fashion photography, with my close friends as models/subjects. (grin) I have tried pencil sketching (human subjects) and abstract painting when I was young; I lost interest early on, though. Sigh. But I do remember fondly how much I enjoyed doing the shading in my sketches.
It makes me ecstatic to know that you really, really like these pictures I've taken myself. I love collecting nature shots; it's a way of preserving beauty, and of being reminded of it.
Odessa, maraming, maraming salamat! (blush, blush)
Rick, I love the fact that you've made mention of the 'opening in the sky' in the image. The clouds' movements that day did have a tunnel look/effect; made me even think of 'bright' blackholes. (grin)
Kenneth, Janice, very well said. Thank you.
Retro, yeah, the second half of March till the first half of April -- hellish-hot days. 
But now, the rains have come! Oh, happy days are here again.
Anita, I am not aware of any such translation made, if any. Glad to see you here, dear. Thank you for dropping by.
Henry, Elizabeth, I've been, well, 'lost', detached from more things than usual. Found my way back to a familiar routine, though, and to poetry, so no more ranting here for me. I've missed your company, too. Will be spending time on your site shortly.
Barbara, Carole, thank you, dear, for the concern. (hug) Your words give much warmth.
Brad, thank you so much for expressing your support.
Julie, your friendship means a great deal to me. I am so sorry for worrying you. I reckon it would've been better had I posted a "going on a hiatus" message a while back, but I hadn't been on my functional best then. Anyway, now, I am doing well, especially since I've regained the clarity I've lost, to fuel my writing. (big sisterly hug) Love you, Julie.
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