“Possum in the Window Well”
January 3, 2018
Palmyra, WI
Photo Credit©Jane H. Johann

Strolling through the winter snow

All of a sudden I fell below

Strange as the window well was to me

The bottom was lined with apples and sunflower seeds

The human tried to help me out

But I would not budge and would not shout

Instead I “played possum” you see

A great old trick between you and me!

For two nights I kept warm against the house

Snuggled and content, waiting for a mouse!

Finally, Dave Schmidt came to my rescue

But not to place me on the eating menu!

Instead, he lowered the net over my body

Such care and kindness he did embody!

Lifting me high over the well

Everything now has turned out swell!

Once again I ran freely over the snow

Happily running to and fro!

“Blossom the Possum” January 4,2018 Palmyra Countryside, Palmyra, Wisconsin Photo Credit©Jane H. Johann

“THE POETIC BOND VII”

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Publication 17 NOV 17

Willowdown Books present poetry by

Jane Johann

Layers of Being : The Lone Star :

sometimes dark doesn’t move

Her poems will appear in the international poetry anthology, THE POETIC BOND VII; ISBN-13: 978-1978098039, ISBN-10: 1978098030 

Biography, Jane Johann (Wisconsin, USA)

Jane Johann, a Wisconsin native, published in the anthology, “Slices of Life”, and blogger on WordPress: she invites you to read more of her poems at FootprintsofThoughts@wordpress.com.

Summary Review of her work included in The Poetic Bond VII

“Layers of Being – Indeed a poem of many layers, exploring what it is to be human”

“The Lone Star – This seasonal evocation of autumn places man firmly within nature … a  well-structured and well-written piece.”

“sometimes the dark doesn’t move – Precisely structured, short piece with a big message.  The non-moving dark is a strong metaphor for the social funk many of us find ourselves within.”

(Trevor Maynard and the editorial Team, The Poetic Bond Series)

The Poetic Bond VII  

POETRY THAT BINDS, POETRY THAT BONDS   POETRY THAT FREES US

Editors’ Notes

1.  50 poets from 11 countries were selected through a submission process in which there were no restrictions on form, style, length of subject; instead the choices made were on the basis of emergent themes and congruency in the pool of work; a snapshot of the poetry of new media NOW, seeking to capture the zeitgeist of the moment.

2. FOR A PDF PRESS COPY OF THE POETIC BOND VII, contact Trevor Maynard at poetry@trevormaynard.com on 0 44 7966 079968 or by snail mail at Willowdown Books, 105 Crockford Park Road, Addletone, Surrey, UK, KT15 2LP

3. Trevor Maynard, UK based poet and writer, manager of Poetry, Review and Discuss Group, a major poetry group on LinkedIn.  His new poetry collection is GREY SUN, DARK MOON was published September 14 2015).  He is also the author of several plays.  Further information at http://www.trevormaynard.com

4. The Poets of The POETIC BOND VI (2016) are; Amber Jimenez-Flores (US)/ Annel Bell Martin (US)/ A.D. Fallon (US)/ Belinda DuPret (UK), Betty Bleen (US) / Melissa Bird (UK)/ Diane Burrow (UK) / CE Maynard (UK)/ Christine Anderes (US), Cigeng Zhang (China) / Darrell Wright (US) / Deborah Nyamekye (Ghana/UK) / Denisa Parsons (US) , Elaine Battersby (UK)/ Fiona Sullivan (UK) / Bon (Bonnie) Flach (US) / Flavia Cosma (Canada) ,Gilbert A.Franke (US) / Kelli Gunn (Canada) / Pamela Hope Deluca Price (US) / Jane Johann (US) ,Joseph J.Simmons US) / Karen Henneberry (Canada) / Karen Rothstein (US) / Kayla Matheson (US) Sajida Khan (UK) / Lee Landau (US) / Lexene Burns (Australia) /  Madeline Lipton (US) ,Lizzie La Pool (UK) / Tatjana Lončarec (Croatia) / Low Kwai Chee (Malaysia)/ Marcia Weber (UK)  Mariangela Canzi (Italy) / Marie Youssefirad (US) / Mustofa Munir (US) / Nancy Scott (US) ,Pedro Cunha (Portugal) / Richard Glen Smith (US) / Robin Ouzman Hislop (UK/Spain) / Joseph Sinclair (UK) / Suzanne Askham (UK) / Nana Tokatli (Greece) / Tom Sterner-Howe (US)/ Vensa Arsenic (US) Brian Walker (UK)/ William DiBenedetto (US) / Vi De Vries (Canada) / Lynne Zotalis (US)
5. The submission for The Poetic Bond VIII opens March 31st, 2018

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“Christmas Candle”
Photo Credit©Jane Johann, Dec.2017

My friend, Bette, and her husband Rick, are two very kind people that have blessed my life and I am sure, they have also been a blessing to countless others. Both were teachers, so their giving touched many young lives through the years. This past Christmas, Bette shared a story that happened at their home on Christmas Eve.

As was her custom, Bette had put a lighted candle in the window. It was a tradition she said she had experienced in her past as a young person, and each Christmas, she continued the tradition.  The lit candle served as a sign to passersby, that if they were in need, they could knock on her door and she and Rick would be of help to them.

This particular Christmas Eve did bring a knock to their door.  A young man and his son had veered off the country road and into a ditch that was filled with Wisconsin snow. They asked if they could borrow a shovel.  Of course, Bette and her husband, Rick, gave them a shovel and a flashlight to help them out. While they were outside digging their car out, Bette and Rick prepared a Christmas Box for the two travelers. They had received an abundant supply of grapefruit and oranges from Florida as a Christmas gift and they decided to share the fruit with the father and his son.

How wonderful that the lit candle brought the travelers to a safe place in our weary world. How wonderful that generous and caring people still live among us. How wonderful that a beautiful tradition of being available to help someone in need when a lit candle in the window leads the way!

SOURCE:  http://irishpage.com/noel/Kerynoel.html

The Irish tradition of placing a lit candle by a window at Christmas time seems to have originated in Ireland. Although, it is also a traditional German custom, as well, dating back to the time of  Martin Luther. Historically, it seems to have begun in the 17th Century in Ireland when the Penal Laws of Ireland were in place. Catholics were forbidden to gather in Churches for Mass and the priests had to hide or be killed. As a result, Catholics had to devise a signal for the priest that he would be welcomed into their home to say Mass. The signal was a lit candle in the window. The government became a bit suspicious with all the candlelit windows so the people simply said it was in response to the Christmas Story that tells about Joseph and Mary looking for shelter for themselves and their child that was about to be born, Jesus.  The tradition, even to this day, emphasizes the hospitality of the Irish people, who are known for their welcoming spirit to a friend, to those who pass by or to those in need.

Other Interesting Sites about “A Candle in the Window”

http://www.celticchristmasmusic.com/christmas-traditions/candle-in-window-laden-table-in-ireland.htm

http://www.amishnews.com/featurearticles/germanchristmas.htm

http://thewildgeese.irish/profiles/blogs/the-irish-christmas-candle-in-the-window