Hitting Snooze on the New Year
For the Abecedarian Challenge
Another year begun, says my calendar
But the rhythm of seasons disagrees: the old winter is not done. Be soft with yourself.
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Consider what Winter is for; Conserve your energy. Comfort, rest, warmth
Demand your prioritisation. Don't fight the chilly tide. Dip to the
Ebb. "Enough" is the name I give Now, the name I give You, the name I give Me
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For now:
Germinate under the soil of fluffy blankets. Give yourself time. Grow unseen.
Hibernate gently my love.
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Imbolc is surely soon enough; if naptime calls, your affirmative is
Justified. Just
Kick the Resolutions can down the icy road
Let Spring be the time for the New You. January is a langurous limbo to luxuriate in, a lumbering run-up.
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Maybe you broke your resolutions already
Never mind, the snowdrops are a second chance for us all. Nature says now is not the time to advance.
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Ooze your ideas and
Prepare. Percolate your plans in
Quietude
Reflect, rejuvenate
Slumber, still. Sip steaming soup. Steep your schemes like
Tea, brew them as meticulously. Take your lesson from other creatures
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Under the soil of blankets, spider out your roots, little seed.
Vow to drink more water; do more squats; eat more greens...
When the daffodil trumpets the turning of the season; when days stretch and earth warms; when green comes back. Wave goodbye to the old year slowly with a fond
X x x x pressed to blue chilly lips of the temporary death
Yet another 5 minutes; your resolutions can wait until the snowdrops nod their tiny YES; until then
Zzzzzz
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Quick Authors Note:
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed it, I assume you already know how likes and subscriptions work, and how to find my profile. Would you consider sharing this, or reading another? Christmas is over, motivation may be slack, Please pop another ha'penny in the writer's hat.
Pay no attention to the writer behind the curtain: I wrote this for the Abecedarian Challenge (linked at the bottom).
I am not fully taking my own advice with this one - still on the New Year's Resolution train with my personal goal to publish a short story every day this year. But other things I've reined back until Spring, and given myself permission to just get through January.
This poem is a reminder from me to you: If the gloom lies heavy on you, it's OK to stay cosy, move a little slower, and put hot soup where other people tell you radical change ought to be. After all, you and me baby ain't nothing but mammals.
About the Creator
L.C. Schäfer
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Keep reading
More stories from L.C. Schäfer and writers in Poets and other communities.
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By L.C. SchäferExclusive • 2 months ago
Comments (36)
Delight Abecedarian poem… it still holds true for 2025✅.
Absolutely love the message in this! Winter is a time for nourishment, for hunkering down with a good book, and for quiet rest. We should all take the time to enjoy it while it’s here😊 “Germinate under the soil of fluffy blankets.”- favourite line.
Perfect! This should be pinned to every fridge 🤗
Thought provoking, gentle, reaffirming, everything a new years poem aught to be. And best of all it made me laugh at the end!
"Zzzzzz" - o, this made me smile; the laziest yet witty word choice I've seen for this challenge (alongside with 'X x x x"). Nice mantra!
Lovely and so melodic. Congrats on the TS
LC this is a breath taking take on the challenge and I am all here for it!! Great work!!
This has just the right amount of soft kick to it. Ingeniously done. Thoroughly enjoyed B/C/E/F/G and "Slumber still. Sip steaming soup. Steep your schemes like...Tea, brew them as meticulously. Take lessons from other creatures." That...is guidance boy! Yes twice!
An alliterative masterpiece! A pleasure to read!
So Amazing! contrasts
Really great. Read more here: https://latestnewsheadlinestoday.wordpress.com/
Amazing job! Keep up the outstanding work—congrats!
Yeah, Congrats on Top Story!
If I can hibernate, I'll do that every single day, 24/7. That's a freaking coma you dimwit, I hear you say. Oh well. Lol. Loved your Abecedarian! Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Beautifully put together!
Genius. You knocked this poem out of the park.
This works for me winter, spring, summer & fall, lol.
Oh this is fab. This is one of those poems I’d like someone to read out loud to me so I can close my eyes and really listen to the words. Just beautiful.
I’ll echo Oneg, this felt effortless. And wonderful advice too! I often forget that it’s okay to rest when it’s cold and the sun is mostly missing. This was a very sweet, gentle, and tasty reminder to do so. Beautiful poem!
Ughhhh be soft with yourself 🥹🥹🥹 yes. It feels like you wrote this so damn effortlessly
Yay! Congrats on the TS.
If you had shoehorned a Vocal mention into there, you could have submitted this one for the #200 Challenge as well. Just imagine the power move of winning back-to-back challenges with the same piece... Sublime.
Great job! This has been a fun challenge. I’ve done two entries so far.
End with the Bloodhound gang….nice. Well done I like your take on this challenge
This poem made me want to tuck into my blankets and hibernate, letting my imagination germinate and brainstorm the book ideas I've been wanting to work on. ... I might actually go do that. After another cup of hot coffee.☕️