Icicle-bearded,
wearing worsted wool
and well-laced boots
old man winter
came at last to visit,
frosting trees and painting
rosy cheeks
on children (and on us)
playing, skiing in the snow
a weekend to survive
while passing time
until spring and vaccines
turns it back to normal
so we may spend
our money and our time
shopping at the mall
cursing winter
like we did before
Today we write about connections at dVerse with Merrill and I feel so elated after a weekend of winter (finally) when we went skiing a bit.
January 19. 2021
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I’m pleased you finally got a taste of winter, Bjorn! I found these lines interesting:
‘back to normal
so we may spend
our money and our time
shopping at the mall’
I was thinking about this the other day as I wandered round a deserted mall. Was this the measure of my life before? And do I want to go back to that? It would certainly be nice to have some semblance of normality, but I hope I remember the lessons I’ve learned in lockdown!
Exactly… maybe we need a normal that include the connection to nature we have learned.
“Icicle-bearded,” is such a fantastic image of winter, Bjorn! 💝 Hopefully normalcy will return soon to our world. Here’s hoping mankind has learned something during this turbulent phase.
I’m glad you got to enjoy some winter. I’m OK with spring coming soon. 😀
Yes, I hope we’ve learned some lessons from all of this–though I suspect some will never learn.
Often, just a bit of being outdoors makes a difference. I haven’t been in a shopping mall in four years and I don’t miss it at all.
A joyous winter connection to childhood and enjoying nature, that (almost) makes us content that “normal” may not return.
Point so well made with re the shopping mall and (hopefully) lessons learned during quarantine. I liked this very much.
as a wearer of a beard normaly (not at the moment as it rubs on the masks i use) i am glad england is to warm for me to be icicle-beared.
connection made here
I’m such a sucker for alliteration. This was real. And real good too.
-David
Your poetic connection writhe and undulate like magical tree roots; impressive. So cool you could enjoy Winter versus bitching about it.
We were single-digit overnight & low teens all day. ICK. Bring on some H-E-A-T PLEEEZE.. I’m glad you’re happy, though, BR. Fantastic homage to chill, this one, esp love the icicle-beard opening line.
I think we may find some of our tastes have changed. I hope normal doesn’t include a great many ‘before’ things.
I go for two walks a day. I find being outside helps to clear my head. I am glad you got out. I hope we remember the joy nature brought us during this pandemic and re-think how we care for our planet.
See how much ww take for granted. A shift in the stars and we will be back on track again. Vaccines closing distances.
Happy you dropped by to read mine Björn
Much💖love
icicle-bearded left me frosted (a bit) but love the love of winter here, Bjorn!
Old Man Winter is such a sweet title and the poem is sweeter yet.
I thought at first that this was a whimsical poem for you, Björn, a nostalgic trip back to childhood, but it didn’t last long! Our snow was short-lived too, and we were soon back to normal, cursing winter.
It is so much fun to be able to do it and must be a great relief in these trying times. One up for not many have had the opportunity
Hank
This is a lovely poem …. our seasons continue on and on and on.
I always feel like I’m ungrateful when it comes to the weather. When it’s cold I wish for summer, and once summer arrives, I’m complaining about the heat.
I like your metaphor of winter and Covid! It feels to me that we have had a whole long year of winter! I think it will be the end of the summer before we get back to some normalcy!
delightful imagery, skiing is good exercise, relaxing and invigorating all at the same time … I’m sure you’ll get a lot more in now
I do hope we learn more than this!
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Love your portrayal of Old Man Winter, especially that “icicle beard”.
As much as I dislike winter, it has provided some fond memories similar to this.
How did I miss this one? Winter is OK by me as long as it makes up its mind to be winter. I adore the image you used. (Also, I didn’t find your comment in my spam folder for the other post…)
I couldn’t comment… let me try again