Ice sculptures form in the creek – Photo © 2017 by V. Nesdoly
January Almanac
Frosted black pavement
Slush hillocks turned ice, packed snow
Slippery when wet
Streetlights spot diamonds
Every street a booby-trap
of black ice
East outflow winds
Harsh, strong, glittering, long
freeze-drying Winter
Puffy Capsize coat
Icebreaker socks, Northside boots
my new best friends
© 2017 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)
****************
Winter has caught my attention. This year we’ve had particularly long cold spells with snow off and on since mid-December. Then mid-day the temperature warms to just above freezing and for a few hours the snow melts till the temps dip again. The pair of sturdy, warm hiking boots I bought way back in October is getting lots of use. No falls on the ice so far!
This post is linked to Poetry Friday, hosted this week by Keri at Keri Recommends.
Violet Nesdoly / poems 
cvarsalona
January 13, 2017 at 7:14 am
Violet, I love the contrasts in your poem between diamonds and booby traps. Winter may be harsh where you are but you have made it glisten in image and words. Would you consider offering this January Almanac for my #WinterWonder17 gallery?
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 13, 2017 at 8:02 am
Thank you, Carol! And yes, I’d be delighted for you to use this in your #WinterWonder17 Gallery. Do you need me to email it to you, or can you use it from this post?
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
cvarsalona
January 13, 2017 at 9:41 am
Violet, when I capture the set, it comes out too large so I reduced it and the words are too small to be read and a bit blurry. If you can reduce the image to 450/500 pixels and have the words under it, then it might be better. I use PicMonkey Collage when I have a photo and a poem that I want to place side by side. It has a resize and sharpen tool that works well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
cvarsalona
January 13, 2017 at 9:54 am
I got it! I always love a challenge. I will send it finished #imagepoem that works well in the gallery via Twitter.
LikeLike
lindabaie
January 13, 2017 at 8:20 am
Best wishes for continuing “no falls”, Violet. My “new best friends” are Smart Wool socks and long underwear. Our own temps have been very low & high, mercurial is the word! That picture in the creek is breathtaking!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 13, 2017 at 10:12 am
Thanks Linda! I so understand those best friends of yours. Have resisted the long underwear, simply because the thermometer doesn’t read that cold (compared to what I knew as a child). Want to toughen myself up. The clear albeit cold days are a treat, though. I’m getting used to the cold and starting to actually enjoy it.
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Donna Smith
January 13, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Ha! I’m sporting my Smart Wool socks right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
lindabaie
January 13, 2017 at 3:03 pm
They never fail me, Donna. I’ve only needed the long undies once this year, so far. But they were great!
LikeLike
Kay McGriff (@kaymcgriff)
January 13, 2017 at 12:50 pm
I love the contrasting imagery–beauty and danger–in your poems. I suspect I may have to watch out for some of those icy booby traps tomorrow. Enjoy those hiking boots!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 13, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Thanks, Kay! There’s nothing like a good pair of boots for a feeling of warmth and security. I saw an interesting item on the news a few days ago. Local sporting goods stores complained they were running out of detachable grippers people could somehow attach to boot bottoms—having the effect, I believe, of studded tires. I could have used those this week.
>
LikeLike
Donna Smith
January 13, 2017 at 1:46 pm
We have treacherous black ice everywhere now, too! It warms up just enough to smooth over, then it freezes slick again…I LOVE that photo!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 13, 2017 at 3:01 pm
Thanks, Donna! What you describe – thaw, then free again, is exactly what’s happening here.
>
LikeLike
Tara Smith
January 13, 2017 at 2:02 pm
A winter poem to shiver and enjoy, Violet – no falls, though!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 13, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Thank you, Tara. I agree, no falls, please!
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leigh Anne
January 13, 2017 at 4:27 pm
I am sitting under my “old best friend” (homemade blankets) with a roaring fire awaiting to see if the temperatures will be steady or will dip below the freezing mark. We are right on the boarder! Stay warm and vertical! 🙂
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 13, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Thanks, Leigh Anne! I’m trying (to stay warm and vertical 😉
>
LikeLike
Jane the Raincity Librarian
January 13, 2017 at 4:55 pm
We’ve had an unusually cold winter too this year, definitely a season for the wooly socks and grippy hiking boots! I know a few people who’ve discovered those hidden black ice booby-traps – ouch!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Violet Nesdoly
January 14, 2017 at 8:18 am
Thank you, Jane! I live in the Vancouver ‘burbs (Langley) so I know whereof you speak. I’m just glad I don’t have to drive to work these frosty, black-icy mornings. Stay safe!
>
LikeLike
Linda Mitchell
January 14, 2017 at 3:32 am
oh, the delicioussssssssssssssss aliteration in this poem. I love how you incorporate the road sign slippery when wet into this look at a freezy day. The ice sculpture photo is really cool too! Isn’t nature just amazing. Truly, our world is more fantastic that we could ever dream up. Have a great week.
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 14, 2017 at 8:28 am
Thanks so much, Linda. I agree: “more fantastic than we could ever dream up.”
>
LikeLike
Brenda Davis Harsham
January 14, 2017 at 4:05 am
I am celebrating no falls this year, too. Woo-hoo! Love the visual of the creek sculpture. The poem puts me right there, midwinter, even though we are having a balmy few days here.
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 14, 2017 at 8:15 am
Good for you Brenda. The weather people are predicting some balm for us too—probably accompanied by rain. So I will continue to enjoy the crisp, clear cold.
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda Davis Harsham
January 14, 2017 at 11:53 am
I hope the rain takes away your ice. Crisp and cold is so fun when the sidewalks are clear.
LikeLike
maryleehahn
January 14, 2017 at 5:07 am
Wow. The ice sculptures in that photo are stunning! Keep staying warm and safe!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 14, 2017 at 8:16 am
Thank you, Mary Lee! Those sculptures reminded me of old fashioned tallow-dipped candles.
>
LikeLike
jarhartz
January 14, 2017 at 9:48 am
Those ice scuptures are serious common place marvels! Love how “streetlight spot diamonds”. Take care and stay warm taking those photos.
LikeLike
Keri Collins Lewis
January 14, 2017 at 1:00 pm
I cannot imagine what I would do faced with so much ice and snow! Good luck staying upright — no falls allowed!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 14, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Thank you, Keri. So far so good!
>
LikeLike
Kiesha Shepard
January 14, 2017 at 1:36 pm
What a gorgeous spot! I want to get on my boots and join you! Your words describe it perfectly, Violet.
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 14, 2017 at 2:48 pm
Thank you Kiesha. Yes, there is lots that’s gorgeous about snow-covered.
>
LikeLike
haitiruth
January 15, 2017 at 10:16 am
Brr! It’s beautiful, but I can’t say I wish I were in it! Ruth in Haiti (thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com)
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 16, 2017 at 8:17 pm
I totally understand Ruth! Right now the warmth of Haiti sounds pretty good to me too (although one gets surprisingly used to the cold).
>
LikeLike
Matt Forrest Esenwine
January 16, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Love that photo – and the poem pairs nicely, Violet.
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 16, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Thanks so much, Matt!
>
LikeLike
Heidi
January 17, 2017 at 1:14 am
Violet, better you than I…unrelenting cold is not my thing (but your poem is). Even better is that gorgeous, fascinating photograph–instant stalagmites!
LikeLike
Violet Nesdoly
January 17, 2017 at 5:37 am
Thank you, Heidi. That’s a great comparison: “stalagmites”!
>
LikeLike