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Ice Water From a Tipping Glass
by Kristina Woodhillice began its melt here
following
weeks of a stillness
we could walk around in,
shadowless
in our dense fog coats,
occasionally,
a drip or two escaped notice
extending an icicle's view,
ground a bit closer
for the drop,
bare ash tree wind-song
preening its brown branches
with an eerie musical
northwestern twang
back east ice creeps
casually off mighty lakes,
pushing giggling people
back, back, back
in jiggly videos on Utube
back drops of houses
where none
of the three pigs would build
and shuttering fingers discover
no off button
blizzard warnings
in Wood River area yesterday,
central Idaho mountains settle down
after second lost plane this season
is found
by those who do not give up;
five passengers, nestled peacefully,
will wait to disembark
with spring's permission slip
further west and down stream
step sister's mother lies in her waiting sleep,
having spent all she had banked,
words spill out of wet faces
anxious, thankful, blanketed
in warmth, quiet room, shadows
come and go, supplicants, phone calls,
emails, all that refuse to disconnect
before the final quiet click
warm or icy cold,
strong and steady,
taking river flows
01/13/2014
Author's Note: Thankfully, the bodies from stanza 3 have been recovered.
Posted on 01/13/2014
Copyright © 2024 Kristina Woodhill
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 01/13/14 at 03:08 PM A very full and perspective of the recent cold, cold snap and its effects on people. |
| Posted by George Hoerner on 01/13/14 at 03:34 PM Real cold does seem to quiet the world down doesn't. Very nice lady. |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 01/13/14 at 03:51 PM Beautiful, rich, excellent response to extreme weather, with a unique human element...story to it. The northwestern twang brought back memories. The only other place I've heard the word 'twang' was in the Ottawa valley just west of the city. |
| Posted by Clara Mae Gregory on 01/13/14 at 06:40 PM Awesome write, Kristina....you are definately a top authentic artist of poetry....I just love this!
*****STELLAR SUPER NOVA***** |
| Posted by Alison McKenzie on 01/13/14 at 08:07 PM Exquisitely written, as always!!! |
| Posted by Laura Doom on 01/14/14 at 10:54 AM You give nature a good name...you are a natural, and not despite, but because of the effort you put into it; I attend your every detail. |
| Posted by Rob Littler on 02/04/14 at 05:33 AM "no off button" line made me cry...and I like the line break in the plane stanza, the lead up to found from being lost, reminds me of deer on mountain roads, dead. juxtaposition of thought, secret arrangements made while breathing...travelers as we all are. |
| Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 02/10/14 at 02:36 PM is found by those who do not give up. that line is impressive and telling, that is to say that that is the way I look at a poem, knowing that in each one is a venturous pilgrim, perhaps ventured out in too severe climates who is in need of rescue and as a reader I will not retire my eyes lest that pilgrim is found and fortunately in this poem is discovered safe and sound and very much alive. |
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