Winsome Whirl

Free verse poetry

I often find inspiration in the most unexpected moments. One winter day, while gathering produce for my restaurant, I found myself caught in a sudden snowstorm in the Strip District. Unable to navigate the near whiteout conditions, I pulled over at a quiet dead end overlooking a train trellis. There, the world seemed to pause, cloaked in the delicate beauty of falling snow. The moment " equal parts serene and foreboding " held me captive, urging me to capture it in words.

the delicate linger

of a snowflake fall

stilled my journey 

as I gazed in majestic awe

of winters winsome whirl

I wondered to myself

how can something 

so foreboding

be… so beautiful

and I whispered

in a slow exhale

to thank her

I watched 

the ivory cascade of crystals 

silhouetted against 

the old iron train trellis above

like a circuitous waterfall

dashing, darting 

and dotting my vision

before gently resting

on some train tracks 

below

I feel a hesitation

in the snowflakes 

final flight

to graceful surrender

before blanketing 

the stock-still life 

beneath

highlighting

the barren tree branches 

with a pearly frost

immersing my vision

in a scintillating shroud

of suspended animation

enticing me to embrace…

her

how can anything

this beautiful

be so foreboding

© 2025 Robert Trakofler

Author's Note

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

that was amazing. it was hypnotic, much like staring out the window watching snowfall.
the old iron train trellis above
like a circuitous waterfall
dashing, darting
and dotting my vision
... this part really stood out for me. i liked the whole poem but the alliteration with the D's had me smiling ear to ear.
and i like the philosophical ending. how can anything this beautiful be so foreboding? this can be said about a lot of things in the world. this universe is full of contradictions.
anyway, this was a lovely work. i was entranced.

[Robert Trakofler]

it was a fun one to write I just played that video over and over and let the words roll out but the thought how could anything so beautiful be so foreboding struck me when i was staring at the train trellis waiting for the storm to lighten up

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous work. Well crafted.

[Robert Trakofler]

thank you Thomas

[Relic]

This is one of the reasons I keep visiting this site. Such a beautifully written poem and video, Robert.

[Robert Trakofler]

Thanks old friend every once in a while you run into one of those moments

[Neville]

Your exquisite ink captures a moment and vista frozen in time brother Robert .. More atmospherical than a hot air balloon & colder than permafrost .. Made me reach for my significant others thick woolen shawl & no messin .. One of your biggest fans .. Me 😎👍

[Robert Trakofler]

you have always been one of my greatest teachers in the Cafe I have spent many hours over the years absorbing your ink so needless to say I have been one of yours too! thank you this one did come out nicely... since my heart attacks it has taken me 3 years for me to really get back my pen but i think its all the more shiny for it

[Neville]

You have a golden nib dear friend .. write on bro and always .. Neville

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that picture and this poem are so expressive....I love pictures with no people in them...just nature and inanimate objects that do seem to have a life of their own....we just have to look harder to see it.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

lol in this instance nature hit me over the head with a crowbar! I couldn’t drive anymore it was white out conditions in my van so I just pulled over and went down a dead end street and poof this was my view

[MCS]

I’m deep into winter here in the great white north but its always lovely see how others view the majesty of winter. Well done and enjoyed!

[Robert Trakofler]

I imagine up north the glimmer of it gets to be a little gloomy after a while:/

[MCS]

Robert, you got that right. It gets old fast the cold the mess and the bulk of winter garments.

[Dylan Macadham]

...Beautiful, Foreboding, great contrast, a compelling write!

[Robert Trakofler]

thank you Dylan

[Stella Armour]

Snowflakes falling create such peace , nothing else has that quiet ethereal ness about Bunny.
A beautiful and calming write from you this snowy winter day .

[Robert Trakofler]

Hello Stella it was one of those moments as you may have seen on my video it was just breathtaking

[Stella Armour]

Foreboding indeed Bunny, but its amazing how when you look beyond the harshness of something and see nature surrounding it you also see something beautiful that softens the image.
Your reading was really lovely..❤