At our last Recent Read gathering, my friend Margaret introduced me to Pulitzer Prize winner and thirteenth US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. I find that I begin reading one poem and then the next and then the next…
The following poem is from his latest book, Kindest Regards: New and Selected Poems, ©2018 by the author, published by Cooper Canyon Press, p 205 and also featured on the jacket back.
Hoarfrost
Two days of an icy prairie fog and every blade of grass, and twig, and branch, and every stretch of wire, barb, post and staple, is a knot or a thread in a lace of the purest white. To walk is like finding your way through a wedding dress, the sky inside it cold and satiny; no past, no future, just the now all breathless. Then a red bird, like a pinprick, changes everything.
We didn’t have a hoarfrost this morning, but I did see a red bird … a cardinal.
Morning Glory Studio 
Oh I am so glad you are reading Ted Kooser. My favorite book of his poems is Delights and Shadows. The year he was named Poet Laureate I heard him read several times. He is so humble. I memorized his poem, “Mother.” “Hoarfrost” is also lovely.
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I am so enjoying the poems… I find that I read one and then dip in for another…it’s like eating chocolate…
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Seeing a red bird always makes the day a little better.
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That’s a great one from Ted Kooser – I’ve enjoyed his poems for some time now.
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Beautiful! Thank you for introducing me to a new-to-me poet!
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Thank you for sharing a new-to-me poet, Honoré! I haven’t missed much about NaBloPoMo, but Poetry Tuesday/Sunday is one.
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Hoarfrost……new to me and just lovely.. I filled the birdfeeder after we cleared all the snow fall, and the cardinal was back to thank me almost instantly!
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