I woke up today thinking it was Saturday. All week, I wanted to try writing an Ovillejo, a form of poetry that some of the Poetry Friday participants challenged us to try writing last week. But the week got away from me.

It was also snowing, so I sat down and decided to try the Ovillejo form. The following is what I came up with:

Ovillejo for Spring

Why are the snow piles slow to melt?
Cold is still felt.

Why can no daffodils be seen?
Snow makes a sheen.

Can we limit the winter days?
Always a phase.

Waiting for the sun to amaze
Winter retreats to memory
Leaving us room for reverie
Cold snowy phase leads to sun’s rays.

Draft, Carol Labuzzetta, 2026.

I’m not sure I did it correctly, but I counted my syllables and checked my rhyme scheme many times. I might try another later today, but for a first effort, I am okay with how it turned out.

Thanks to the group for the prompt.

What I’m reading…

I’d like to make this a regular feature of my website as people always seem to be interested in it. I alluded to buying three poetry books in my post last week, and I’ve finished one.

Haibun: A Writer’s Guide (2023) by Roberta Beary, Lew Watts, and Rich Youmans was the first book of the three I purchased. It was somewhat of a dry read, and the authors have definite ideas on what a haibun is and what it isn’t.

I came away, unfortunately, feeling like I was no longer interested in writing them. Much of the prose left me cold. A haibun consists of descriptive prose and a haiku, as I understand it. But what I didn’t understand was the many nuances that exist in the form. And those nuances seem very subjective. I know all poetry is subjective, but the subjectivity in these seems extreme – almost to the point of having to be explained.

This reminded me of having to explain my poetry to a creative writing professor in undergrad – after which he changed my grade from a C to an A. If done well, I don’t think it needs explaining. This is just my opinion, of course.

The book did inspire me to try some more modern haiku, getting away from the 5-7-5. And those, I am pleased with.

Barbie's closet
Custom clothes
Grandma's doing

© Carol Labuzzetta, 2026.


Banana bike
Hours spend
My childhood

© Carol Labuzzetta, 2026.

I finished I am Anastasia (2019) by Ariel Lawhon and am onto Project Hail Mary (2022) by Andy Weir. I usually read historical fiction, and my husband reads science fiction, and we trade. As always, I like to read a book before seeing a movie, thus the decision to read what I am now.

I can highly recommend Ariel Lawhon’s books. They are well-written and engrossing. I especially enjoyed The Frozen River.

My week on Medium.com has been good. Publishing several articles that have gotten attention, one on travel and one on the price of coffee.

View at Medium.com

View at Medium.com

I’ve shared a “friend link”, but if you cannot read the full article, sometimes the link reverts to a paid subscription. If you are burning to read what I wrote, message me, and I’ll send the friend link to you personally. Thanks for your interest.

Lastly, I read that Little Thoughts Press was open for submissions again. I’ll not be submitting, but maybe some of you’d like to. Good Luck!

Marcie Flinchum Atkins is our host this week, and she’s celebrating an upcoming book birthday! Be sure to check her post and congratulate her! Thanks for hosting, Marcie!