Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Magpie 50

Life in New England, January, 2011
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind makes moan.
Earth stands hard as iron,
Water like a stone.
Snow has fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow.
In the bleak mid-winter
Snow is all we know.
(With my apologies to Christina Rossetti)

27 comments:

Lynn ... said...

So as I reading I got this incredible chill that I felt all the way to the bone. I love this piece. I never wanted it to end.

Other Mary said...

I don't think you need to apologize for that! :o)

Kristen Haskell said...

I woke up today feeling like a snowman. I cannot for the life of me get warm today. It is that bleak of mid-winter that I dislike the most. I am desperate for some warmth.

Kay L. Davies said...

Bleak, Berowne, very bleak. Very good.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Sioux Roslawski said...

"In the bleak mid winter
Snow is all we know."

Made me think of the novel Ethan Frome...

Reflections said...

Deep frosts of a winters day, snow like stone covering the world, painting images of spectacular grace.

Tumblewords: said...

Perfect.

Rinkly Rimes said...

I think those first four lines are the best ever description of winter. Brrrrr!

Shane Genziuk said...

Yeah a great description of winter. Nice mate.

Strummed Words said...

I feel for you. More snow on the way today in the Northeast, and I don't think you can drive in it! Keep warm!

Margaret said...

Beautiful. It is one of the reasons we moved from Northern Michigan.

Eliza said...

A beautiful description of Winter. :)

Berowne said...

"A beautiful description of Winter."
Thanks for your fine comment, Eliza (with a "z") :-)

Berowne said...

Lynn H R: "I love this piece. I never wanted it to end."
What a great comment, Lynn -- thanks.

Berowne said...

Mary, Kristen H, Kay L D, Sioux R, Reflections, Tumblewords, Rinkly R, Shane G, Strummed W and Margaret B -- I appreciate your encouragement; thanks.

hedgewitch said...

Moody and starkly simple, with the repetition at the end extremely effective. You write poetry as well as you transmit Elizabethan factoids, and that's very well indeed.

Berowne said...

hedgewitch: "You write poetry as well as you transmit Elizabethan factoids, and that's very well indeed."
Glad you enjoyed it, but the applause should be for Christina.

Pat said...

If Winter comes can Spring be far behind?
Apologies to ...?

Brigid O'Connor said...

Let it thaw, let it thaw, let it thaw!

Spring is starting to show signs here in Ireland, finally, I hope it comes soon to your part of the world.

Kathe W. said...

Brrrrrrrr well done- perfect description of chilly snowy winter.

The Blog of Bee said...

I love it and I sang it!

OJ Gonzalez-Cazares said...

chilling! but not in a scary way ;) - lovely poem!

Sue J said...

I had to sing this!

shoreacres said...

I was introduced to England, cathedrals and these words all in one magical Christmas. Sometimes, perfect words find perfect music and a perfect setting.

There's enough warmth here to make winter bearable. Thanks for the reminder.

gautami tripathy said...

Wonderful words...

zeroing into the arrow

Maureen Newman said...

"Earth stands hard as iron-" Nice imagery. It describles eastern Canada perfectly at the moment.

Kavita said...

(shivering)... I hear ya, my friend!! And I share your sentiment... brrr... loved the way you wrote it... really felt!
And yet, despite it all, I love winter! :)

 
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