Oh Where Went Summer

How much more living is the life that is in nature, the furred life which still survives the stinging nights, and, from amidst fields and woods covered with frost and snow, sees the sun rise.- Thoreau

stiff, arthritic winds

turned calendar page ushers

frigid, bone crushers

Author's Note

"A pure elastic heaven hangs over all, as if the impurities of the summer sky, refined and shrunk by the chaste winter's cold, had been winnowed from the heavens upon the earth. Nature confounds her summer distinctions at this season. The heavens seem to be nearer the earth. The elements are less reserved and distinct. Water turns to ice, rain to snow. The day is but a Scandinavian night. The winter is an arctic summer." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

Popcorn snowflakes on Lebanon Cedar Tree boughs... the Birds under the Eaves of Roofs... chickens in their Coops... spiders hiding ... and we are deep in Dreams of Calico dresses and kisses that melt in bits of sunlight love and devotion... my friend of a thousand Arabian starry Nights. gently, Pat

[Pete]

nice. deep like snow.

[isla]

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[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh that personification...I visualize those ushers...and feel their coldness.
j.

[Pete]

brrr. we're really feeling it this week. keep warm but embrace the temporary change.

[John the Baptist]

And in August, we'll be pleading for the relief of the cold.

[Pete]

yes, we're more fickle than the seasons themselves.

[Starr]

Winter time can go away at anytime now, I dislike being cold, but like looking at the snow. Awesome write

[Pete]

brrr, was 15 degrees this morning where i am. i dislike the cold but it makes warmer times all the more appreciated, plus it gives us something to talk about. thanks for sharing thoughts starr and stay warm if not in your flesh then in your soul.

[Starr]

Trying too, thank you will read again soon. When time permits me to.

[---]

I can relate, Pete, winters in my hemisphere are bleak, dark for long hours and the temperature makes it difficult to enjoy time outside. People start to lose it, up here, and the rate of violent incidents and psych admits seems to spike around January. (Wife's an ER nurse, I hear all the stories).

That said, I've always felt that winter was a kind of trial - if I could endure the long dark for long enough, make it to the bloom of spring, then I get to feeling as though I've grown to conquer something inside of myself that in the past might've had cause to break me.

They temper steel in cool water, we temper our spirits when our worlds are at their bleakest - the trick seems to be finding it within ourselves to see to the other side.

Not sure if that's helpful, as we may be of different minds, but it's part of why my profile is so closely aligned to winter imagery. (I've seen through a fair number of them).

Nicely writ Pete, stay warm.

- Ook

[Pete]

I happen to agree - making it through a winter gives us a sense of achievement and makes us appreciate spring all the more. nature has much to teach us first hand. the creator outdid himself with nature and the seasons. this morning it was 18 degrees where I am with an expected high of 29 degrees. thank you for sharing real thoughts ook and keep warm and safe.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Nice haiku or senryu. In Alaskan schools they let kids go outside to play so long as it isn't twenty below zero F. or more. Colder than that, the chance of frostbite is too great. It's where my grandchildren live.

[Pete]

wow about your grandkids being in alaska - summers must be magnificent though. when i was a kid i had a newspaper route about a mile from my house. everyday i would walk or bike there and back and deliver about 50 newspapers regardless of the weather. nature is magnificent with each season having so much to offer.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Yeah, my oldest granddaughter races dog sleds, owns her own sled dog and weaves scarves on a rigid heddle loom. I'm pleased they get to experience the things they do. I'll never race a dog sled for sure. :)

[Pete]

very cool (no pun intended).

[.]

Those who don't like winter are those who are afraid of hope, because winter represents new beginnings and cleansing.
thank you for sharing

[Pete]

good point - if not for winter, we wouldn't appreciate spring, summer and autumn as much. there is perfection in the seasons as designed by a master craftsman. thank you for sharing rich thoughts.

[Poetic Beauty]

Winter at its finest. It’s gnarled fingers stretching out across the horizon freezing the earth with its frigid touch

[Pete]

yes, old man winter doing his thing. was 19 degrees here this morning when i woke up. no snow on the ground here right now.

[Poetic Beauty]

It’s freezing here. Haven’t looked at the actual temperature though lol