My fever smells of leather, ail-
ment: spells of weather, rivers,
slept in tents. Through hail,
I left my comfort; shiver
with clouds of summits
and on roads not taken
finding streams to plummet
into ice-cold water, wakened
dive, find me a reason,
seasoned lightly, be alive.
Crimea Mountains by Ivan Bilibin
Today we have a guestblogger at dVerse who inspire us to think about travel, and the anticipation that’s built into that… Like the word resfeber (coming from Swedish) that translates to travel-fever. Something that make me think about out mountains here in Sweden. Pub opens at 3 PM EST.
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November 4, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I really enjoyed this Bjorn. It has a steampunk, romantic 19th century explorer feel to it. The illustration suits perfectly.
I see a figure lying on top of the rock, contemplating his journey below. Described the travel bug well BR.
Yes! Excellent!
I love the travel fever, that drives one to sleep in tents and go to roads not yet taken ~ Indeed one feels alive when one is travelling deep into nature ~
I like the tightness of this poem Bjorn–focused and succint. Smile…>KB
Travel surely does wake us up in a most charming way!
You have captured the feeling of wanderlust, Bjorn!
I agree with Suzanne – a steampunk feeling. It may be hard to believe, but in my salad days I did wilderness hiking and camping, even during cold winter! I loved it. Even did some cross country skiing. This reminded of those glorious mornings when the air was cold and sweet and coffee was the sweetest perfume as the pot sat on the fire. Excellent job!
I just traveled through the mountains in storm, catching my breath at the vista around every corner……so I know the lure of the “clouds of summits”. Beautiful, kiddo.
Wow! Indeed the thrill of discovering new places makes one feel alive. Beautifully executed 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Great use of internal rhyme, Bjorn, and love the sensory aspects to this 🙂
You captured it! Love this rhyme too, felt like singing it
“Find me a reason, seasoned lightly” love that!!
A great kind of fever to have, Bjorn. You make it quite palpable. K.
It feels almost like a travel compulsion…as if it’s needed in order to fully live…I feel it. Love your last two lines too!
aahhh…. true to home my friend. Nicely done.
Resfeber sounds a bit like rest fever but you certainly capture the restlessness that takes over some of us to experience the weather and mountains more fully.
A travel fever makes one feel sick but not. The elation of seeing new things create some ‘inner shocks’ perhaps
Hank
Yes, travel fever and exposure to raw elements gives good reasons to be alive! This poem is disciplined…like a climber of rocky heights.
I love the smell of travel fever – for it definitely has one – at least traveling and camping outdoors does: sun on canvas, kerosene lanterns, mosquito repellent (yuck!), freshly dug dirt, dried fruit and yes, leather hiking boots. Wonderful old earthy scents that reconnect us back to the land.