Short walk.
Softly snow falls,
quiet, seeing.
A flake floats, hovering moment.
Changes the way
back, continues to descend.
Surfer skimming crystal.
Tender power, creation,
cutback along the crest.
Then on down.
Down down down
below the swell.
Crunches underboot.
Breathless moment
interrupted.
Rigs on the highway.
Distance of thousands,
far. But not so.
Sounds another dimension.
Gliding across waves,
a million miles across.
© 2019 Martin C. Fredricks IV
Does it qualify as “living” when all you do is run to your car, into the front doors of your destination, back to your car and, finally, into your house, no pauses or sidetracks?
Yeah, it’s been cold up this way the last coupla days.
So cold that 0° sounds – and feels – downright balmy.
I mean, it’s so cold you can throw a cup of water into the air and it’ll turn into a cloud of crystals immediately. As one media type pointed out a couple of days ago, nearly every TV news outlet in the state will demonstrate that little maneuver while we’re in the midst of this freakin’ cold vortex thingy. Too ugly out to go out and find real news.
Let’s just say it’s “triple-dog dare ya” cold. Think Flick in “A Christmas Story.” Come to think of it, we might have just stumbled upon a new phrase for expressing how cold the weather is – “We’re Flicked!”
Continue reading “Ridin’ the Vortex ‘Til the Wheels Fall Off”
This early morning quiet / Many inches on the ground / Falling softly still, six-fifteen / Straight down, not a sound….
This early morning quiet
Many inches on the ground
Falling softly still, six-fifteen
Straight down, not a sound.
The sagging branches, wet white
Up north Dakota Territory
The way of it at thirty degrees
Another clean winter story.
Tip toe up and down
Whisper softly to each one
No school today, ice and snow
Maybe heaps before it’s done.
Really seriously can’t believe
Never happened before
Thank you, Jesus, and
Please send some more.
Many an old codger has been heard of an afternoon here in North Dakota praising the extreme weather.
“Keeps the riffraff out,” says Old Boy, motioning out the window of the local cafe over a cup of scalding black coffee.
