Friday, February 20, 2015

"North Carolina"


North Carolina

I do not miss continuous grays of the northern winter sky;
do enjoy February's southern blues and flashes of color
that wing in and out of barren trees adorned
with fall's golden, brittle banners.

I'd be remiss not to say the lack of snow drew me here,
to this state of mountains and sandy shore,
where in between lies a land of temperate bearing
and light, heaven sent; absent whirling squall's
and frigid temper-tantrums.

And yet, there are moments I ache to see
nature's fingertips upon a frozen window pane,
branches drooping as if diamond draped,
and the beach, double-stacked with iced waves
layered, pancaked upon Lake Michigan's shore.

by Margaret Bednar, February 20, 2015

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Get Listed".  I used miss/remiss and sent/absent.



12 comments:

Jim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jim said...

So very nice reading, Margaret. Of course I related with every line, I left two snow shovels north of here.
Nebraska - Birth to U.S. Army
Texas, El Paso - U.S. Army (Five years)
New Hampshire - Aerospace Engineering, Spy Satellite Tracking - Three years
Texas - Houston area - Rest of my life (in order; NASA Aerospace Engineering; College Business Professor; Retired)

I suppose that would make a poem? But it fit into yours so nicely (We even have mountains in Texas 600 miles to the west of here)

Unless you see my "Link" with Mr. Linky I'm not writing (still).
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Jim said...

You saved me, inspired me, and got me going. Thank you, I wrote a short, quick, little ditty. Tired/retired.
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brudberg said...

I think I understand the sentiment of missing the beauty of winter.. There are those days when all seems to be sleeping - deep.. with a crystalline beauty. Yet to be able to just linger in something close to spring. I recall this from a few months I spent in Teneesee many yars ago.

Kerry O'Connor said...

This is a beautifully descriptive and pensive poem, Margaret. I really felt the regret for the depth of Winter in your words.

Wolfsrosebud said...

i was so caught up in this piece... i'd forgotten what the prompt was... beautiful writing... i'm from Wisconsin and send you a frosty invitation anytime you're missing winter

TexWisGirl said...

i can relate. almost 31 years in texas and i still miss the seasons of home in wisconsin.

Brian Miller said...

ha. we lived in NC for 7 years...and moved from there on to Florida...which was beautiful...but i missed the snow..and mountains...if you want some snow i will send some to you...we are getting another 8-10 inches today...already got 2 inches in the first 2 hours of the storm...

Helen said...

A lovely poem, Margaret ~~ a reminder that variety is the spice of life.

Grace said...

Love the creative word pairing - frigid temper-tantrums and layered, pancaked upon the shore ~ Beautifully painted scenery though I can do without the diamond draped snow ~

grapeling said...

My cousin, north of NYC, is glad it warmed up to 15 today. His wife, from the SF Bay Area, sometimes wonders about her sanity in moving from there...

Well penned, Margaret - that curious blend of not-quite-wistfulness with the path not taken, and peace with the decision. Thanks for adding your voice ~

Hannah said...

Beautiful visions...I love the contrast of imagery you built, Margaret and this is one of my favorites, "branches drooping as if diamond draped," beautiful!