By Joseph Hesch
Last night the snow
laid its ghostly hands
upon all the horizontals outside.
Some of the verticals and
in-betweens, too,
felt its curative touch.
Fresh-fallen, so softly
whitening the dark,
smoothing the points and edges,
beautifying the uglies that were
too conspicuous before
the fall after Fall.
But, come windy morning,
that which was covered,
and those sojourners
not long passed
have carved their marks
on the once-immaculate.
And with dawn's rising light
they reveal
Winter’s cold truth.
I wrote this poem back in February, right after I began this journey upon the vast sea of zeroes and ones. I think only a few people other than close friends have actually seen it, what with it being "old" and my being just a funny name when I posted it. So, with a few edits, I'm re-introducing "Cold Truth" to visitors at dVerse Poets Pub for the Dec. 27, 2011 Open Link Night, which I happen to be hosting. I think it's a proper poem for this Winter, to remember the past year and my latest journey, leaving my marks, my truth, on pages both white and virtual.
You *did* write winter pretty. I liked it. Esp. the ending line. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteSnow is a great "leveler" in terms of beauty. So amazing how it covers all, and how pretty it is--then the chill sets in! K.
ReplyDeleteNice - I find the imagery aligns closely with my own perception of snow and winter.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the snow's "curative touch".
ReplyDeletelovely write... this poem is everything I felt when I finally saw snow start to fall this afternoon
ReplyDeleteI like the capture of the winter's falling and covering to reveal the cold truth. I resonate with your words and moments ~ Thanks for hosting tonight ~
ReplyDeletebinary connectivity...felt
ReplyDeletePeace
Love that purifying blanket...and love too how it disappears so very quickly, revealing the ugliness that it ALMOST tricks us into forgetting. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Joe, and may your pen stand strong in 2012!
ReplyDeleteI love freshly fallen snow, especially
ReplyDeletebeautifying the uglies that were
too conspicuous before
the fall after Fall.
turtle chose the lines I loved most although, the whole thing is completely lovely and mysterious. beautiful pen!
ReplyDeletehttp://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/singing-myself-to-wake/
love how you capture the ambivalence here...the covering..the comfort..the cold..the fall after fall..the soft whitening..the hard freezing... thanks for tending the bar tonight sir..
ReplyDeleteI love the horizontals, slants and verticals, points and edges of the snow. I feel the same way about winter.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured the soft blanketing silence of snow that stirs deep in my memory. I particularly love the depth of:
ReplyDeletehave carved their marks
on the once-immaculate.
Stunning imagery - love the snow whitening the dark and the ambiguity where the things hidden, transformed are still there underneath
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I love this! This line, in particular, I find superb:
ReplyDelete"upon all the horizontals outside"
And this too, I love: "beautifying the uglies"
Excellent piece.
~Shawna
Hi Joe, thanks for hosting tonight and sharing this piece. A beautiful write that makes me feel thankful for those moments when the cold hard truth is beautified ... giving respite on the journey. Truly, a happy new year to you.
ReplyDeletethis is really beautiful, love the visual of carving marks :)
ReplyDeleteEnding is so perfect... I liked it very much..
ReplyDeleteShashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/12/whisper-no-one-is-there-in-living-haiku.html
loved the slow moving picture you've painted here
ReplyDeletelovely Joe, you always have a talent for connecting our place in emotion through the outside world setting. I felt the cold that this journey can be, takes me to a inward focus, truly enjoyed! My best to you this coming year my friend! ~ Rose
ReplyDeleteYour poems always put me on the verge of tears, and I love it :) I liked your use of the words, "horizontals" and "verticals" very much. It's so true that snow covers the ugly. Nice to be visiting your site again, Joe!
ReplyDeleteFirst heavy snowfall is one of my favorite times of the year and one of my few favorites in winter. I love how you've laid a blanket of words over all the ugly bits made them sparkle.
ReplyDelete