Feb
2021
Poetry Friday: How to Be a Snowman
Brrrr…I hope you are staying warm wherever you are. For once, I may actually have enough snow. We’ve had three snowstorms in the past two weeks. Usually all the snow melts before the next one falls, but not this time.
I am taking part in Laura Shovan’s February Daily Poem Project, and so far have written a poem every day. The prompts on the theme of bodies have been incredible and the poems written in response even more so. This poem came from the prompt offered by Donna Smith, a squiggle (an illustration that she draws from a black squiggle line). This illustration showed a mitten-covered hand adding a carrot nose to a snowman. It seems appropriate for this week’s weather.
How to Be a Snowman
Start with a squiggle of snow
and hope someone
will roll your body into balls.
Shiver.
Stand tall under a top hat.
Stare straight ahead.
Shiver some more.
Try not to sneeze
when a mittened hand
tickles your carrot nose.
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Ruth hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken place. She invites everyone to leave a fact that is a poem. She will round them up into a poem along with the links to more poetry. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.
Tabatha
February 21, 2021 at 10:17 pm (3 years ago)What a cute ending! Very sweet, Kay 🙂
Mrs. McGriff
February 26, 2021 at 9:56 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Tabatha
Heidi Mordhorst
February 21, 2021 at 10:21 am (3 years ago)I had missed this over on Facebook! Very sweet and ready for sharing with littles!
Mrs. McGriff
February 21, 2021 at 7:56 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Heid. It’s hard to keep up with all the poetry this month.
Alan j Wright
February 20, 2021 at 7:04 pm (3 years ago)Kay, your poem reminds me of Elaine Magliaro’s poem ‘How To Make A Morning’ in its list like structure. You have done the snowman proud. A strong appeal to imagery. This is what comes when we draw from the world we find ourselves in at any particular time.
Mrs. McGriff
February 20, 2021 at 8:51 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Alan. Elaine’s poems are definitely an inspiration and model for this one.
Rose Cappelli
February 20, 2021 at 5:24 pm (3 years ago)What a great poem! I could visualize that snowman trying not to sneeze!
Mrs. McGriff
February 20, 2021 at 8:50 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Rose.
Bridget Magee
February 20, 2021 at 12:08 pm (3 years ago)Such a sweet poem, Kay! It’s lways good to ‘try not to sneeze’ – snowman or human – in our present covid times! Ha! Sending you warm thoughts and best wishes for a bit of a break from the snowstorms. 🙂
Mrs. McGriff
February 20, 2021 at 8:49 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Bridget. Definitely not a time for sneezes!
Mary Lee
February 20, 2021 at 9:46 am (3 years ago)I like your nod to Donna’s squiggles, and (like so many others) your effective use of alliteration! Great job thinking like a snowman! (Who knew they might sneeze!>!)
Mrs. McGriff
February 20, 2021 at 11:27 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Mary Lee.
Sally Murphy
February 19, 2021 at 10:20 pm (3 years ago)Kay, I love the alliteration here. I felt shivery reading – which is quite a feat given I’m in the midst of summer. Thank you.
Mrs. McGriff
February 20, 2021 at 11:26 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Sally. I enjoyed tagging along for your trip to the beach and snorkeling this week.
Tim Gels
February 19, 2021 at 9:39 pm (3 years ago)Such a fun poem, Kay. Like Laura said above, I see the snowman standing tall and staring straight ahead as an effort to keep his secret. Thanks (and brrr)!
Mrs. McGriff
February 20, 2021 at 11:25 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Tim. I hope he keeps his secrets!
janice scully
February 19, 2021 at 7:29 pm (3 years ago)I loved seeing the world from a snowman point of view. Yes, there must be shivering involved.
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 8:00 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Janice. I believe our snow is shivering, too this week.
Molly Hogan
February 19, 2021 at 7:07 pm (3 years ago)This is such a cute poem! I also love all the “S” words.
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 7:59 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Molly.
Ruth
February 19, 2021 at 4:13 pm (3 years ago)I love this! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 7:59 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Ruth!
Laura Shovan
February 19, 2021 at 2:14 pm (3 years ago)This poem is adorable. I love the idea that the snowman must remind itself to stare straight ahead and NOT sneeze to give away its secret!
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 7:58 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Laura. This one was fun to write.
Linda Baie
February 19, 2021 at 1:29 pm (3 years ago)I love the poem, Kay, when I read it first & today, too. We did have snow but it’s melting fast, a little more coming tomorrow, but the warmth is coming early next week! Thanks for sharing again!
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 7:58 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Linda. STay warm! We will warm up next week and then enjoy all the mud!
jama
February 19, 2021 at 12:18 pm (3 years ago)So charming, love it!! We’ve had several snow storms this past week too.
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 7:57 pm (3 years ago)Thanks, Jama. The snow has been pretty far flung this week.
Jan
February 19, 2021 at 10:57 am (3 years ago)What fun & games, dear Kay!. I love your brand new to me thought, of what happens when a snow creature sneezes. Happy snow days to all comfortable with heat inside, but surrounded by the fluffy stuff, from snowless Florida.
Jan/Bookseedstudio
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 11:37 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Jan. I am enjoying the snowy view and am grateful for our warm house.
Linda Mitchell
February 19, 2021 at 9:56 am (3 years ago)So many fun S words….squiggle is the best! I also love, “try not to sneeze.” Ha!
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 11:36 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Linda. I hadn’t even noticed the S-words
Irene Latham
February 19, 2021 at 9:23 am (3 years ago)You had me at “squiggle of snow.” I love this, Kay! Thank you. xo
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 11:36 am (3 years ago)Thanks, Irene. I’ll have to share credit with Donna for inspiring my choice of squiggle.
Carol Varsalona
February 19, 2021 at 1:32 am (3 years ago)Kay, I am glad that you shared your delightful poem that children will enjoy (I certainly did). I can see children like my little Sierra acting out your poem and having fun with the ending. Stay warm.
Mrs. McGriff
February 19, 2021 at 11:35 am (3 years ago)Thank you, Carol. would love to see children like Sierra enjoy acting it out.