When winter is deep
and water’s transformed into ice,
the road that we shortcut to work
might seem for you an adventure,
for us it is normal.
When the lake is finally frozen,
a floor — solid but slippery hard,
we take it ever so easy on spike-studded tires,
arriving apple cheeked happy
safely to work.
The journey reversed is in darkness,
and is one of the blessings of winter,
as is the bottle of wine
shared in a fireplace night.
Winter Landscape with Skaters and a Bird Trap by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Today Sarah wants us to contemplate a journey at dVerse that might be ordinary for you but different for others… I’m sure that I might be the other one writing about commuting cross the ice every day on bicycle.
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I love that picture by Pieter Bruegel the Elder – now that would be a fabulous commute – on skates! I’m not keen on driving in snow, especially not in the UK where nothing is geared up for it. I love the idea of ‘arriving apple cheeked happy’ and ‘the bottle of wine / shared in a fireplace night’.
Oh, wow, Bjorn! What an amazing journey. I love the description, and your apple cheeks, and then the cosiness of an evening at home in front of the fire.
Now that’s my kind of shortcut! I liked the warm ending you gave to this poem as well, Björn. It was the perfect way to end it.
I’m pleased you ended with the contrast of the warm fireside. Riding across a frozen river does not entice me at all!
Falling through the ice fears would give me pause to cycle across it. In the Spring it must be dicy. Do you have winter tires on the bike?
This is so warming and sweet in the backdrop of ice and cold — making the familiar journey through that frozen path sounds exciting. I loved how you portrayed “the blessings of winter”.
Spike-studded bicycle tires. It has never occurred to me that such things exist–nor that anyone would ride a bike over snow and ice. I love what we learn about each other on these blogs. An exciting ride with you through a novel world. So glad it ended warm and cozy.
An adventure for me Bjorn!
How beautiful Bjorn … I feel le there having glass of wine by the fire 🙂
Going on ice in the dark sounds like an adventure but have “spike-studded tires” makes sense.
Sounds very romantic and adventurous, Björn.
You are a brave soul…I have always despised driving in snow and frost..I have been rear-ended a time or two. You make it sound almost romantic.
i felt the magic of winter from your poem, the solid water, warm wine and rosy apple cheeks. what normal for you is an adventure i would like to have for sure!
That commute across the ice must be exhilarating.
Wow- a frozen lake. Great description of winter where you live Bjorn.
Invigorating ride, relaxing evening…thanks for sharing your commute 🙂
What an amazing way to go to work. I have no experience of living in such a cold climate and am always impressed by the creative ways people find to live in such environments.
I love this. I cannot imagine having to ride a bicycle on ice to work every day. We grow up each so exclusively different in so many areas. Love your poem!
That’s bravery all around. I’ll stay on solid, though icy ground, thank you. Love the picture as well.
Pat
This is great! I read in my great-great-grandfather’s book how they went across the Lake Erie when they were traveling in the winter. Hard to imagine.
Very nice!