ADIEU TO MARCH 2020

The New York Botanical Garden

March 31, 2020

A bleak rainy day set off the self-confinement plan
The alert message read "Stay Home," if you can

An eerie hush fell over the great New York City
I had never seen it so deserted, an awesome pity

Rare and unsual emails popped up to declare
World treat of the virus, must take special care

Several major museums temporarily did suspend 
And a major fund raiser Gala saw its sad end

Saint PAT's parade and sports a "NO Show"
Loss of these pleasures were a mighty blow

A celebrity lunheon at a orestigious Club
Suddenly cancelled  but offered a sub

All social events were suddenly curtailed
Blank calendars on a new course derailed

A center closed to public until next month
Update will be provided before were sunk 

March 20 celebrated the first day of Spring
The glorious colors nature, my heart did sing

Safety from the virus kept us in check
To stay home in safety with no regret

Small price to pay to prevent the spread
The month of March I'll never forget

But the March winds are singing a farewell song
Spring is eager waiting at the gate to come along.

ADIEU TO FEBRUARY 2020 By Polly Guerin

An ambivalent month of fickle weather

February sent frigid sunny days together

Twas time to be home, our fervent desire
A time to cuddle together before the fire

Winter's silence softened the city chorus
And the birdless trees were barren porous

I looked up to see diamonds in the velvet sky
And watched the evening star go gently by

Carrying my dreams of dreams come true
Tucked into my private heart so nobody knew

Then Valentines Day softened the hardest hearts
With chocolate kisses, friends and lovers did impart

Old Leap Year allowed gals to take the lead and propose
Did any man accept? The count was up nobody knows

Laughter is the sunshine, it brightens a winter face
One-by-one a smile brings happiness in its place

Our Founding Father's birthday, a three-day pass
Reminds us when George Washington was a lad

The days of winter seem endless, dark and long
Depleted trees, I do not hear the lovely birdsong

I dream of a garden of flowers to replace the frost
But the multi-fleur rainbow is buried and lost

Now March is waiting to open the monthly gate
There's an extra day February 29th don't be late.

ADIEU to JANUARY 2020 By Polly Guerin

We toasted in the New Year with festive feast and gala wine
And Love sat down at banquet before the midnight chime

Then winter came calling, an ermine cape of snow drifts
And shrouded the city skyscrapers with peace-dove gifts

It did not last, the bone-chilling frigid unfriendly weather
Kept us cozing to heart and home, hankering in together 

The Lunar Eclipse on January tenth reset our inner clock
And cleared away the pathway to yearnings we now unlock

The world in strife, fired up with emotion for want of tears
Rained silent prayers of hope upon those hard-hearted ears

Then came Malcolm Luther King day to honor the great man
Commanding peace and compassion was his noble plan

While flowers of late winter occupy silent places in our heart
Winter is slumbering in the open air and songbirds sing apart

We yearn for the magical land where dreams do come true
When peace and harmony unite the troubled world anew

And laughter is the sunshine that softens the sullen face
Just pick up your drive and plunge ahead, join in the race

With magic waiting somewhere behind January's door
It's a month that promises new adventures to explore!

ADIEU TO DECEMBER 2019

Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh

December swept in to close the parting year
With a frigid Arctic blast, snow was in the rear

Powder puff flurries temporarily dusted the scene
Then spring-like weather made us giddy and beam

Yet brilliant stars illuminated the holiday streets
The Christmas tree at Rock made it all complete

And the Winter Solstice chimed in to celebrate
With joyful hymns and candles for nature's sake

Do not forget it is the end of remarkable decade
Recall sweet memories, dear ones, before they fade

Christmas concerts set the joyous holiday mood
O Holy Night, Silent Night so familiar did soothe

Folks wondered how the year had gone by in a silent poof
Left us dazed and betrayed by precious time is the proof

Starry night, night of wonder we sent songs of love away
To tame a hardened heart far and wide on Christmas Day

Oh why must you depart and close out this end of year
We had so much more to do, to savor you my dearest dear

There was no holding back the time and the clock was ticking
Away the final hours came, and Auld Lang Syne was tweeting

December bowed out with amazing grace and let in a New Year!
Where "Dreams Do Come True," for a grateful heart sincere..

CHRISTMAS TREE ORAMENTS FUZZY TALE By Polly Guerin

Once upon the time, in the long, long ago, Matilda Fizzibottom decided to donate her adorable and long treasured storybook Christmas tree ornaments to the Children's Library. Well, that day when the ornaments learned that they would be leaving for unknown places in the wide, wide world, it was quite news to them. 
    "Do not be upset," declared the Mouse Grenadier in his Christmas red uniform with gold braid and medals. His companion the Drum Majorette tapped away on his drum and the other ornaments cheered in unison.
      Just then an elf of a pink mouse sitting in a green Christmas stocking asked, "Who will read us a story from the Victorian Snow Children's book? 
      "I will," said Humpty Dumpty who sat on his own private bench wearing blue jeans and a silly grin.  His little stovepipe hat had fallen to the side of his head and he looked like he was ready to tell the story of the little boy who went out from his house in his snowsuit to play in the snow. "It was the first time he had ever played in the snow, so he watched the other children throwing snow balls."        

Storyteller Humpty Dumpty had every Christmas tree ornament's attention. Continuing with
glee Humty Dumpty had a special ending to the story. "The little boy was so excited about the snowballs that he decided to save one for himself, so he tucked it into a pocket in his snowsuit to show his Mother and enjoy later. Well, when his Mother took off his snowsuit the little boy dug into his pocket to show her the snowball, but it had melted and was just a mass of slush in his
pocket. "That just goes to show you, " said Humpty Dumpty, "That each day is a fleeting moment in time and like the snowball one's life can also melt away."
     After delivering his wise comments Humpty Dumpty smiled at the giraffe circus performer
perched on a small platform. The giraffe was dressed in a red and white gingham coat with a gold
harness and tail and was proud of being the tallest Christmas ornament in the collection.  His
favorite companion was a blue-eye circus cat who balanced himself on a green, gold trimmed balancing ball.
      The Christmas ornaments welcomed the presence of some snow white  paper angels with gold
crowns in their red hair and a Christmas caroler with a jaunty red pompom on his hat was softly singing Christmas carols, to which the Christmas ornaments joined in by humming. Then, too, there were three adorable little French poodle dog ornaments, all related by their curly white coats with ribbons and bow tie decoration.     

When the Librarian received the package many days ahead of Christmas she did not open it
immediately and the Christmas ornaments thought perhaps they would be forgotten. But, that did not happen, instead the Librarian took pleasure in placing each and every one of the Christmas ornaments on a special branch in the green Christmas tree, decked with a light snow dusting, in the children's wing of the library. The Christmas ornaments were full of joy, year after year,  whenever children came to visit them in the library.
     "That's all there is to this simply Christmas Ornament story," said Humpty Dumpty, "We are
happy to now reside in the Library where we bring the Christmas Ornament story to each boy and girl who visits the special Christmas tree where we now reside."
      "Wishing you Happy Holidays," he said, "and may your dreams come true with love from the Christmas ornaments."
          

ADIEU TO NOVEMBER 2019 By Polly Guerin

Must I say, too soon, Adieu to lovely autumn?
The calm repose of sun kissed days awesome

Stealing gently into the harvest of the year
I can still hear autumn dancing in the sphere

Crisp sunburn leaves soothe the troubled heart
Stave off the weary cares before they even start

The sweet chill of pumpkin spices linger long
The world is full of chirping happy bird song

With childlike wonder autumn's magic hour
Brought cartoon floats above the city bougher

The season ignites hospitality in the heart
And the congenial flame of charity to start

With great cheer assembled for the merry feast
Gathered folks with gratitude to say the least

I heard a thousand blended roaring notes
A frigid blast bore down with chilling strokes

Then, here's to the steadfast, brave oak tree
It stands with its pride, hale green for thee

Tuck November's  story inside a keepsake box
And save autumn's treasures to later unlock

Remember the sweet chill of autumn so dear
Return to its pleasures, again, but next year!




  

ADIEU TO OCTOBER 2019 By Polly Guerin

Soft light, the calm repose of Autumn days
I smell Autumn dancing in October's phase

The trees were dressed in autumn splendor
Yellow saffron, ginger cream, chestnut hues

The Ashes, Oaks and Maples, an even many more
The leaves by hundreds did carpet the forest floor

With the gentle chill, an the crisp sunburnt leaves
Then sweet golden kisses were all over the trees

The bird's came back to take a backward glance
To marvel at nature's glory in striking balance

Soothing life's weary to take comfort and rest
October began a magical month, the very best

A timeless time to press forward with the new
And treasure autumn memories and then renew  

Yet, I still smell the sweet aroma of the pumpkin patch
And everyone,  a trick-or treater, opened up the latch

Columbus Day brought poignant pause to reflect
And remember those who reside in forlorn rest

Though some stormy weather dashed our dreams
The brilliant light returned in sun-kissed streams

Alas we must turn back the clock, brings the blast
Ti's sad that the sweet Autumn days could not last.