Newborn babes swaddled against February cold,
my mother with end-of-life chill, carefully wrapped
in snowflake dotted red, like a holiday gift.
My cat on his cozy throw, dreaming
as a crunch of russet leaves
blankets the grass.
Under covers, entwined, we wait for spring.



A quadrille for dVerse, where I’m hosting tonight. The word is blanket.
So many good uses for a blanket, physical and metaphorical.
Thank you. I had so many ideas, so I kind of combined them. 😏
It works well, very simple and very effective.
Thank you again! 😀
🙂
It’s amazing when you can enjoy the autumn… finding that cozy spot and the blanket is maybe what saves you.
Yes. It’s not too cold or dreary here yet. I’ll be more gloomy in a few weeks.
Lovely evocations of the chilly season – My (sweaty) Antipodean heart goes out to you (hmmm – maybe the beach today 😎)
Hahaha. Thank you, and enjoy. 😀 It’s actually quite lovely here right now.
Warm blankets and lovely memories.
Yes, thank you, Linda!
Love the “crunch of russet leaves,”… this is incredibly stunning, Merril! 😍
Thank you so much, Sanaa! ❤️
A lovely collection of blankets, Merril, and all put to excellent use. I love the use of sound in ‘a crunch of russet leaves / blankets the grass’.
Thank you very much, Kim!
There is such comfort embedded (pun intended!) in the word blanket. Fleece blankets have a fuzzy warmth that can’t be beat, regardless of the occasion, which you so aptly lay out in your poem.
Thank you so much! I agree about the blankets.
Nicely done, Merril! As someone who can’t stand to be cold, there’s something comforting about cuddling up with the perfect blanket. This reminded me of my nephew. When he was a toddler, he had a favorite blanket that he took everywhere. When he got upset he’d rub it against the side of his face. I remember once, his lip curled, ready to break out into tears over something. Instead, he ran across the room, grabbed his blankie and rubbed it against his cheek and never cried.
Thank you, Jill.
I had a security blanket when I was a child. We have lots of throw blankets around because it gets cold in our house in the winter (and I keep the temperature down). I have a favorite one on the couch though, which is a cat magnet. 😀
I know the gesture you mean. My older daughter used to take her Humpty stuffed animal’s leg and rub it on her cheek like that.
Our youngest grandson wanted a weighted blanket for his 13th birthday, so we got him one. Apparently, they are all the rage now. These blankets weigh 15-20 pounds (gasp!) and are intended to swaddle, to add weight and warmth to restless bodies at night.
Your photos are lovely, especially the way your swaddle your baby!
Thank you, Marian.
I hope your grandson enjoys the blanket. Yes, they’re also used to calm anxiety.
Was this the comment I was supposed to be shocked about? I’m confused.
Yes! The blanket was so heavy, I figured they might smother! 😀
Oh. 😏
What a ssweet poignant poem. I love all the way you have mentoned a blanket and ther various uses. I especially like the cats and theirselves on the crunchy leaves.
Thank you very much, Toni.
My Ricky has a blanket by my computer because he has to be near me all the time. 😀
Lovely, all these blankets.
Thank you very much.
I got the warm *fuzzies* from your blankets! Well done!
Thank you very much, Tricia!
Wonderful images of the various types of blankets.. Lovely.
Thank you very much, Dale!
Pleasure is mine… Now if I can just get mine out!
Thank you, and yes. I was wondering if you’d do one. I’m still reading all the responses!
I haven’t written in over a week… I’m on it!
😀
😉
So sweet to think about the newborn, but I hope that Grandma was able to see that newborn too. My mother passed away when I was 23 and that was always one thing…My mom would’ve loved her grandbabies!
Thank you, and I’m so sorry.
My mom died this past April, and she was 97, so she did get to spend much time with my daughters and attend both their weddings. My father died when they were in elementary school, so he never got to see them grow up.
kaykuala
Under covers, entwined,
we wait for spring.
Somehow the cold months seem to invite abhorrence that the greenery of Spring is awaited for in contrast! The outside of the house looks more inviting with the expected colours! Wonderful write Merril!
Hank
Thank you very much, Hank!
Precious use of blankets, each one, and more meaningful than words can say, except you say it very well, even in the unsaid. Somehow you made the wait for spring, wrapped in these blankets, wonderful.
Thank you so much, Dora. That is a truly lovely comment!
You’re most welcome!
Blanketed throughout. Nice.
Thank you, Ken.
Soft and filled with warm memories, like a holiday gift. Thanks for the lovely photo !
Thank you very much, Grace!
Very nicely done…. the end of life’s chill is chilling…. Beautiful blanket!
Thank you very much, Dwight.
My mom didn’t move very much in her last couple years, so she was always cold. My grandnephew bought her this blanket, and we have it in our house now, draped over a chair that was also hers.
You are welcome….What a nice way to remember you mom!
Bitter sweet but wonderfully written Merril…:)
Thank you very much, Rob!
I love that you’ve included the baby photo. When my first son was born in November in the UK, he didn’t see the sun for 6 months. A sad image of your mother ‘with end-of-life chill’ but still comforting that she is blanketed, literally and also by love.
Thank you very much. Both my daughters were born in February, so they were definitely wrapped in blankets. 😀 And my mom didn’t move around much in her last couple years, so she was always cold. My great-nephew bought her the blanket as a Christmas present.
so many evocative contrasts woven in to your blankets Merrill
Thank you very much, Laura.
The warmth of memory is also a blanket against the cold. (K)
Yes, that’s true. Thank you, Kerfe.
Lovely mother and baby
Thank you! We both look a bit different now. 😀
🙂 You are instantly recognisable
Haha!
Lovely poem! We are big on blankets at our house…I am a summer person at heart. Still, I love the changing seasons, and autumn is a beautiful time.
Thank you! I enjoy the changing of the seasons, too. I like it right now–cool at night, and not autumn dreary yet.
The cycle of life wrapped in blankets, beautiful and hopeful.
Thank you very much, Paul.
Very welcome Merril.
A lovely poem for warm blankets, really we all wait for spring.
https://swarnaz.com/
Thank you very much!
Nice blanket images, Merril
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💖love
You’re very welcome! When I host, I make certain to read every response. 😀
Very nice!!!
Thank you! 😀
This blanketed me with the feeling of love, loss, and hope for Spring eternal. xo
Thanks so much, Pam. I’m pleased it did!
This is another Ahhhh poem. I concur with the comments of your other readers.
Aww–thank you so much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril! I’m always so please to receive the gift of an Ahhh poem.
❤️