Tuesday, December 13, 2016

December 2016


First week of Advent
the new kitten asleep
in an heirloom manger

Wrapping gifts
the preschooler’s questions
about homeless people

Cold
after a year in the attic,
these gold and silver baubles

Solstice
the sunstruck red
of unpicked apples

A plastic crèche
to hold some straw
and the Son of God

Christmas Eve
a fragrance of balsam
as the Story is read

Blowing snowflakes
I search for the Christmas star
and find it everywhere

Snowfall
shapes of children who tried so hard
to be good

     c.p.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Mann Library features Carol Purington haiku in September

Cornell University's Mann Library hosts a Daily Haiku Page, highlighting the work of a different poet each month. Carol Purington (author bio) is the guest author in September 2016. Please check in every day to enjoy her poetry, or use the link on the page to subscribe to their daily RSS Feed. Link to September 1, 2016 poem.

Carol's work was also featured on this site nine years ago. Visit the Mann Library Daily Haiku Archives and click through the 31 days of July 2007:   http://haiku.mannlib.cornell.edu/2007/07/page/31/

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Words as wings (2007)

Richie Davis has been covering Franklin County for forty years as a reporter for The Recorder. The Saturday, August 20, 2016 edition had an article by Davis about his experiences during that time.

He also compiled a list of his top 40 articles, which includes one in 2007 about Carol Purington, titled "Words as Wings." He wrote in the introductory paragraph, "I felt it a gift to be able to interview her."

Carol Purington.

The "Words as Wings" article may be read here:  http://www.recorder.com/richie-s-top-40-words-4078858

Sunday, July 17, 2016

July 2016

More haiku from the new book I am slowly putting together, “A Drift of Birdsong.”
     c.p.


Outdoor shower
the solar heater nailed into place
by a woodpecker



Clearing sky
the wind chime spatters
drops of music



Picnic
peanut butter and jam
where we picked the berries



A neighbor’s maze –
taking its curves with me,
alarm cries of a blue jay

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Gallery of Cover Art

A Gallery of Cover Art, including Carol Purington's Family Farm, has been published on The Haiku Foundation website. Please enjoy these twelve beautiful covers of haiku books.

http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/2016/03/10/gallery-of-cover-art/

March 2016

Poems from the new collection of haiku I am putting together.
     c.p.

Evening stroll
stopped by the blank of peepers
stopping


Final words
a window thrown open
to the spring evening


Crossing the loud brook
to find early wildflower
children's chatter


Almost spring...
With its whole body the crow throws caws
to the wind

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Herbert and Barbara (Page) Purington 70th Anniversary

Herbert and Bunny Purington on January 27, 1946 and January 2, 2016

The family of Herbert and Barbara (Page) Purington wishes to announce their 70th wedding anniversary. They were married on January 27, 1946 at the First Baptist Church in Colrain.

Herbert and Bunny have worked and resided on the family dairy farm in Colrain since they were married. They raised 11 children - Marion (deceased 1968), Jean, Carol, Jim, Nancy, Tom, Ken, Bob, Don, Dave, and Ray - and enjoy being at the center of a busy family with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends.

Cards and messages may be mailed to them at 152 Wilson Hill Road, Colrain, MA 01340.


January 1946 newspaper clipping
West Colrain and East Heath 

Purington-Page 

Barbara E. Page, daughter of Mrs. Cynthia Page of Wilson Hill, and Herbert G. Purington, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Purington, also of Wilson Hill, were married Sunday at 2 p.m. in the First Baptist church, Lyonsville, by Rev. Thomas Cate of the Shelburne Falls Baptist church. The double-ring service was used.

The church was decorated with white candles in windows and about the altar where there also were evergreen trees and bouquets of white carnations.

Mrs. Eleanor Looman, organist, played “I Love You Truly,” “O, Promise Me,” and the traditional wedding marches.

The bride was attended by Miss Margaret Purington, sister of the bridegroom, as maid of honor. Charles Purington, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. Ushers were Roland Call, cousin of the bridegroom, and Pfc. Richard Purington of the marine corps, brother of the bridegroom.

The bride wore white satin fashioned with a sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice, full skirt and long train. Her fingertip veil of net was attached to a tiara of seed pearls. She carried white carnations and snapdragons.

Those serving at the reception in the church vestry were the Misses Norma Galbraith, Beatrice Thompson, Ellen Purington, Lois Call, Evelyn Page, Mrs. Eudora Upton, Calvin Call, and Walter Purington. Mrs. Ruth Upton cut the bride’s cake. Lois Call had charge of the guest book.

The bride’s mother wore a dress of coral crêpe and corsage of white carnations and pompons. The bridegroom’s mother wore blue silk jersey with corsage of pink carnations and snapdragons.

For traveling the bride wore a navy blue suit, brown coat, and brown accessories. They will make their home with the bridegroom’s parents.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Purington were graduated from Arms academy. The bridegroom operates a farm with his father.

There were 150 at the wedding and reception.

Lois (Call) Stearns, the youngest member of the wedding party, remembers:
At the time I had been to previous weddings but it was my first grown-up party.  I was 12 and soon to be 13 years old and Mom bought me shoes with a small heel and a very pretty dress.  I felt like I owned the world.

 I remember that I thought Bunny looked beautiful and it was a very special party.  Evelyn was my age and Peggy was like an older sister.  I don't remember anything else except how pretty your mother was and my new shoes.


Sunday, January 10, 2016

Winter Tulips

January 4, 2016


Peachy tulips
against the frosted window
in a cool room
is this how I need to treat you
to keep your love alive


A blizzard
all the reasons you made up
for leaving -
a cut-glass vase
displays flame tulips


Driving home
through a swirl of snowflakes
on the seat beside me
eggplant
lavender tulips

     c.p.