{"id":13356,"date":"2022-12-05T07:07:48","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T12:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/?p=13356"},"modified":"2024-09-07T19:09:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-07T23:09:54","slug":"a-poem-red-december-from-the-professors-journal-red-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/a-poem-red-december-from-the-professors-journal-red-december\/","title":{"rendered":"From Lynda’s Journal – Red December ~ a poem"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Lynda’s Journal<\/h3>\n

Red December<\/em><\/h2>\n

Lynda McKinney Lambert<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

#The Poem<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

#Red December<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

New-fallen snow glimmers in pre-dawn darkness<\/p>\n

shriveled red barberries dangle from thin bare branches<\/p>\n

I shuffle my feet, dig in to feel solid ground<\/p>\n

near the place where my Father\u2019s red roses<\/p>\n

are surrounded by pillows of snow<\/p>\n

slumbering safe in dark red December.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My heavy suede boots part the snow<\/p>\n

It\u2019s too early for the red cardinals<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do they go at night?\u201d<\/p>\n

A sharp wind makes me huddle deeper<\/p>\n

into my bright red boucle jacket<\/p>\n

while my two dogs search random trails<\/p>\n

follow the long marks, meander downhill.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On a crisp day in mid-December<\/p>\n

I desire red raspberry jam on warm toast<\/p>\n

linger by the tall pampas grass<\/p>\n

weighted down to the ground with icy snow<\/p>\n

I think of strawberry Sundays with whipped cream<\/p>\n

I recall wearing Neiman Marcus Red lipstick and<\/p>\n

dancing all night in<\/p>\n

hot red stilettos and tight blue jeans.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We turn around \u2013 for the return home<\/p>\n

the dogs circle in the frozen pachysandra patches<\/p>\n

stiff, malachite-green shrunken leaves.<\/p>\n

In memories I see my neighbor walking to her car<\/p>\n

she wears a cranberry red hat, worsted red wool coat, flat, scarlet red shoes<\/p>\n

carries a true-red leather handbag like the one I bought last Sunday.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I watched her from the upstairs window.<\/p>\n

In her 80s, she revealed how to live a gallant life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No cars pass us on the country road this morning in red December<\/p>\n

Where it is perpetual winter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

#The Backstory<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

This poem is a perspective of winter time in Western Pennsylvania where I have lived my entire life. As I walk my dogs, I am paying attention to every detail, sound, and sight.<\/p>\n

I focus on the color, red, in my world and in my memories.<\/p>\n

I combined memories of people, with our landscape.\u00a0 Life happens in layers of imagery. It is multi-layered, and this sense of the passing of time is what I distill\u00a0 in my poetry.<\/p>\n

*<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

Published:<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

Red December<\/em> (2016) poem<\/p>\n

_Proverse Hong Kong Poetry Prize for Single<\/em> Verse<\/p>\n

Accepted August 27, 2017<\/p>\n

Published: 2017, Anthology, Mingled Voices 2.<\/em><\/p>\n

_Lambert, Lynda McKinney. Star Signs<\/u><\/em>, DLD Books, 2019<\/p>\n

_Lambert, Lynda McKinney. first snow,<\/em> chapbook, 30 Poems, Finishing Line Press, 2020<\/p>\n

_Newsreel, Audio by Lynda_December Issue 2022.<\/p>\n

_Poem From the Professor\u2019s Journal, Walking by Inner Vision Blog, Dec. 5, , 2022.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read more in my NEW BOOK!<\/h2>\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mock-up #6 : Songs for the Pilgrimage.
\nCourtesy AllAuthor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

#BREAKING NEWS<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

This NEW book is currently in production at Perkins Library, for distribution\u00a0 through the library and through NLS (BARD).<\/p>\n

COMING SOON<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n
\n

MY NEW book is a thoughtful and joyous collection\u00a0 of poetry, stories, memoirs, photography, and reflections from 1985 \u2013 2021.<\/p>\n

#Songs for the Pilgrimage<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Order the book for Christmas Gifts \u2013<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Songs for the Pilgrimage.
\nPoems, Non-fiction Stories, Journal Entries, Meditations on the Psalms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This poem is a perspective of winter time in Western Pennsylvania where I have lived my entire life. As I walk my dogs, I am paying attention to every detail, sound, and sight.<\/p>\n

I focus on the color, red, in my world and in my memories.<\/p>\n Continue reading →<\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trusting-god"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Photo15_RedBarberryinShow1.jpg?fit=5184%2C3888&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4gbwn-3tq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16757,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-lyndas-journal_red-december_poem\/","url_meta":{"origin":13356,"position":0},"title":"Lynda’s Journal – Poem – Memories of a Red December","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"February 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"RED - RED - and MORE RED. I'd say my favorite color is RED. I celebrate the\u00a0 color RED, as I view the gift of\u00a0 changing seasons, from my perspective in the Village of Wurtemburg, in western Pennsylvania. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ~Lynda McKinney Lambert","rel":"","context":"In "#From Lynda's Journal"","block_context":{"text":"#From Lynda's Journal","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/from-lyndas-journal\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Jorganson-House_Edited-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Jorganson-House_Edited-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Jorganson-House_Edited-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Jorganson-House_Edited-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Jorganson-House_Edited-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14920,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-the-professors-journal_the-chilly-breeze-a-poem\/","url_meta":{"origin":13356,"position":1},"title":"Lynda’s Journal – The Chilly Breeze (poem)","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"December 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Chilly Breeze, a new poem that was just published. In this post, I give you the poem and the backstory - the inspiration behind the poem. Tell me what you think. I love to hear from my readers.","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/SFTP_Mock_UP_6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18307,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/lyndas-journal-of-blessings_valentines\/","url_meta":{"origin":13356,"position":2},"title":"Lynda’s Journal of Blessings – #750 – Valentine’s Day","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"February 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I must reveal that\u00a0 I am in love with RED.\u00a0 I love to wear red, and my closet has a collection of red dresses for special events, shirts, even a beautiful pair of red slacks by a favorite designer.\u00a0 Red makes me happy when I wear it, and it brings\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmallJoy-EBook-cover-002-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9947,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/poem-preparations-for-winter-from-the-professors-journal\/","url_meta":{"origin":13356,"position":3},"title":"~ From Lynda’s Journal ~ Preparations for Winter","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"October 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"As the autumn leaves are falling I am preparing for the changes as fall shifts a little bit each day in the direction of the the winter months just ahead. This poem reveals how each season is important and how each brings changes to our gardens.","rel":"","context":"In "#Nature"","block_context":{"text":"#Nature","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/nature-3\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/EvergreenJournal_22_books-reading-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/EvergreenJournal_22_books-reading-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/EvergreenJournal_22_books-reading-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/EvergreenJournal_22_books-reading-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12466,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-the-professors-journal_sassy-red-hat_-in-memory-of-my-mother\/","url_meta":{"origin":13356,"position":4},"title":"Lynda’s Journal – Sassy Red Hat – in Memory of my Mother","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"May 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Tiny red roses bloom on leafy ivory vines like delicate crewel embroidery of finest thin wool yarn stitched over black silk background....\"","rel":"","context":"In "#Trusting God"","block_context":{"text":"#Trusting God","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/trusting-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/SmallJoyCover_thm-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16388,"url":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/from-lyndas-art-studio_stitching-red-snow-squall\/","url_meta":{"origin":13356,"position":5},"title":"From Lynda’s Art Studio – Stitching a Red Snow Squall","author":"Lynda Lambert","date":"December 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I begin to arrange the largest gemstones, and establish the outside edge\u00a0 of the artwork. I stitch layers of tiny Japanese or Czech seed beads around each gemstones to anchor them firmly in place.","rel":"","context":"In "#Art"","block_context":{"text":"#Art","link":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC02023-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC02023-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC02023-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC02023-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DSC02023-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13356"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16042,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13356\/revisions\/16042"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}