What is a list poem? This poetry style is a collection of people, places, things, ideas, or even words strung together somewhere within a poem to form a list. It is not necessary for the list to rhythm, but the words used should be memorable. I find the freedom when creating a list poem fascinating. The wordplay can be wild and free similar to Indiana weather in the early spring. Therefore, in March, I plan to write a series of list poems. I will title this one The Big Thaw.
The Big Thaw
Grey overcast sky with a hint of blue
And a ray of brilliant sunshine or two
Piles of lingering snow streaked with black
Evidence of a former snowplow attack
It takes time to melt a foot of stubborn snow
Windmills working in the distance
Giant blades spin without resistance
Red barn stripped of paint in spots by the wind
Rubble from one that didn’t survive around the bend
A barren field waits for next years crop to grow
Silver grain silos stand tall in the morning sun
A brown horse runs for the barn just for fun
A basketball hoop waits for a kid to come play
Weathered winter grass will turn green someday
The end of hibernation waits for the ground to show
An old country church built when times were hard
Crooked and leaning tombstones in a family graveyard
Electric powerlines and cell towers stretch for eternity
Beside a country road spanning as far as the eye can see
The big thaw in the Indiana countryside happens steady and slow
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
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Nice poem. Thanks
I love the imagery and rhyme scheme in this poem — as well as the sense that spring is arriving in Indiana. My favorite line is “Evidence of a former snowplow attack…” It reminds me of a bunch of bushes I saw yesterday which were bent over under one of those huge piles of slowly melting snow (“streaked with black”) at the edge of a school parking lot.
such a beautiful flow of scene. You present it so clearly, it feels like i myself went through that.
Randomly sweet.