The Japanese have a tradition which can be summed up in this poem; what are your three friends of winter?
what are your
pine
three friends
plum
of winter
bamboo
these are Alec’s
two hotties
three friends
warm towels
of winter
& spinach soup
these are Emily’s
snowdrops
three friends
yew
of winter
& redwings
these are Tamara’s
pine needle tea
three friends
late sunrises
of winter
& empty beaches
these are Brighid’s
feels normal being inside
three friends
warm glow feeding birds at the window
of winter
& all my best woollies
these are Kate’s
Orion’s belt
three friends
apple porridge
of winter
& wrapped in blankets
these are Lizzie’s
two hotties
three friends
winter sun
of winter
& a cup of nice tea
these are Cheviot’s
dumplings
three friends
hot pot pork ribs stew
of winter
with chewy cartilages
these are Anna’s
soothing light
three friends
low sun
of winter
& crisp air
these are Jenny’s
chai tea
three friends
low sunshine
of winter
& frosty breath
these are Elaine’s
woodsmoke
three friends
Venus
of winter
& early-to-bed rooks
these are Carrie’s
wild spindle
three friends
vanilla kipfel
of winter
& pink mittens
these are Robin’s
hat
three friends
gloves
of winter
& the moon
these are Susan’s
mince pies
three friends
candles
of winter
& a good book
these are Natalie’s
bicycle lights
three friends
woollen jumpers
of winter
& grey geese
these are Anna’s
whisky & ginger
three friends
playing cards
of winter
& the woodstove
these are Rachel’s
tarragon
three friends
english breakfast
of winter
& a wet dog
these are Jacqueline's
tammies
three friends
revels
of winter
& Robert Wyatt
these are Brighid’s
crisp white grass underfoot in the cemetery
other three friends
nature’s beautiful bones against the sky
of winter
& sunsets of fire
these are Garry’s
patience
three friends
woolly hat
of winter
& Spring
these are Hester’s
red-ice skies
other three friends
candlelight
of winter
& Tia Maria (& love)
these are Charlotte’s
Twiggy
three friends
Bella
of winter
& the short-eared Owl
these are Ali’s
double socks
three friends
sprouts
of winter
bin lid glitter
these are Juliet’s
blue skies
three friends
geese flying overhead
of winter
& long shadows
these are Tara’s
wild- dapple-wind
three friends
haw-burst -berry
of winter
moth-dust-wing
