Ode to Shadow Winter

a largely devoid of snow quasi-winter inspires this shadow write

Odes have been dedicated to the change of seasons, but that angle has been played.

Sprayed with canned snow, our windows reflect the challenges now so clearly defined.

Rewind the time and set your clocks to coincide with the season now at hand,

Planned or not, sharp differences show up in abstract flights of fancy, often so obtuse.

Peruse the landscape, ignore the snow, and imagine fortresses carved from ice;

Suffice to say this sturdy structure clearly surpasses one built of twigs.

Swigs of brandy may fortify one’s journey through drifts of hard-packed snow,

Show the path into the bitter depths, and bring us back to our humble abodes.

 

dan © 2016

Author's Note

weirdly seasonal mishap

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Dan,
A new read for me and definitly interesting. What defines? This was my thought as I read along. Fun as can be and so thought provoking. Ode to shadow winter will be one which will stick in my mind..........Blessings to you.................Kathy

[Adam W Redmon]

I enjoyed it. Really enjoyed the line "bring us back to our humble abodes." such as they can't stand the cold any longer. Brilliant piece of poetry!

[dan]

And what a genius maneuver it was to rhyme the last word of each line to the first word of the next line, yes? C'mon Hank, I've read some of your stuff and you are a bit "off the wall," and I say that as a compliment. So hit me harder with some witty reviews, will ya? (_8^(o)= Been sick for awhile, y'know.
I do appreciate the review, honest. Thanks so much. take care...dan

[Amber Lily]

Yes... the weather is so confusing right now. I get up in the morning to find my car door frozen shut, and leave work in the afternoon with the sun shining. It's been rather inconvenient, and we best prepare in whatever way we can. Like a fortress, the ice refuses to be dominated. A great poem about the current weather patterns :)

[dan]

Amber, Yes I live in western Pennsylvania but it seems as if the entire country has seen obtuse extremes and variances unexplained by historic trends. I came up with the name 'shadow winter' to describe the meteorological histrionics. Thank you as always for your insightful review. take care...dan

[I Am Svetlana]

The weather here has been so bipolar. Snow one day, rain & shine the next. Warm the day after that, then back to deep cold and snow. It's almost the middle of April, it should be sunny and spring weather, not still snow! Anyway, lovely poem here. I think my favorite thing about it would be the way you end and start each line with rhyming the last word from the previous line. Very clever idea!!

[dan]

Thank you Svetlana for visiting and reviewing. I have your page bookmarked and will return the favor later today.
You describe the same sort of weather we've had here in Western Pennsylvania. Maybe you are from same area of the country? Anyway, that is why I gave it the name 'shadow winter.' And rhyming the last word in a line with the first word of the next is actually a real formatting technique but I'm afraid I can't remember what it's called. I live this little poetic device and use it periodically. Thanks again, and nice to "meet you!" take care...dan

[I Am Svetlana]

I actually live in Wisconsin, so we always have odd weather during the year, so I'm somewhat used to it. I just hope Spring decides to show up sometime soon cause I'm sick of the cold. I'm not one for cold weather. I bought clothes for Spring and I hate still seeing them hanging up in my closet. Also, take your time with reviewing, I never force people to review my stuff, but it would be very appreciated! It is nice to meet you also :)

[Insight "MH"]

The weather is really strange, the cold is still attending when it should departure. How lovely you draw your writings , you have a unique way in doing so.

[dan]

Thank you Insight. We here in western Pennsylvania barely had any winter at all. I am hoping that doesn't mean we're in for a scorcher of a summer. Thank you for the compliments! take care...dan

[Insight "MH"]

It's the opposite here, winter is taking forever.

[Terrence Chang]

Short, vivid words and to the point. Loved it Dan. It is good slam poetry

[dan]

Thank you so much, very much appreciated. take care...dan

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmi..]

Man, I enjoy the way you write. Delictely said but strongly build! I loved the snowy peaks and peeks of colors assorted with this spring! Mother nature needs to make up her mind, but again she is a woman and we tend to be professionals at indecision, Again reminded me why i am a Fan

[dan]

Now don't forget that I am one of YOUR biggest fans! Please keep sending me RRs? Thank you so much for the great review. take care...dan

[Ruth]

Seasons seem a month or two behind in recent times, I feel...this is so beautifully rendered Dan, blessings :)

[dan]

Climate change is real. I live in northeast US and we barely had any winter at all. Makes me shudder to think how hot this summer will be. Thanks so much for your kind words. take care...dan

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Changes and icy slopes with a hope of spring.
The landscape is always resurfacing and flowing into different shapes with differences in hues.

[dan]

Josie, Thank you so much for your read/review and interpretation. It was simply (though written very abstractly) a piece bemoaning the lack of snow here in Pennsylvania this winter. I appreciate your viewpoint very much, thanks again! take care...dan

[...]

Funny how as humanity keeps getting colder, the rest of everything else is heating up...just saying. You of course have your own unique way of saying things, and SO poignant

[dan]

Yes we had a very weird winter here, I chose to call it 'shadow winter' my unique way of saying things in the abstract. I like how you say "as humanity keeps getting colder..." Great line! Thank you lynn; always nice to receive a review from you! take care...dan