20 January 2025

When Freeze Sets In

 

source


When it’s freezing outside
It’s hard to picture
the delight of splashing
sun-hot bodies in
cold ocean, an ocean
that does not freeze over,
even when today’s snow
hits its moving waves.
But I picture it anyway.
 
When it’s freezing outside,
I bundle up so skin
stays warmer than snow,
and my strong heart beats
happily in my breast. 
I picture pine trees slowing
their sap and feeding their
roots and cones so seeds
grow ready for spring.
 
I felt frozen when my
candidate was defeated
in the last US election.
Now I try to remember
to treat the deep freeze
with images of trees
and ocean as we build
into the future.  It’s hard,
but we do it anyway. 


For my prompt "What cold is" at What's Going On? 


My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2025 Susan L. Chast


9 comments:

  1. Feel like quoting Shelley: When winter comes, can spring be far behind?" but with climate change (and the world in general), things are weird. Stay warm, Susan. And I love "an ocean / that does not freeze over, / even when today’s snow / hits its moving waves."

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  2. Images of trees and ocean are what keep me sane these days. I love your poem, Susan.

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  3. I wish to experience snow which is a dream where I live. When the soul is frozen I'll go to the wealth of warm words no doubt. A beautiful poem, Susan.

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  4. I like the idea of treating the deep freeze with images of trees and ocean! It is definitely a challenge during these meteorological and political times, but we have to try something....... Beautifully expressed!

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  5. I love the sense of wintering you describe here - it is so important to feel warm inside when outside things are cold - Jae

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  6. Indeed we will. Evil--and that's what he and his ilk are--always contains the seeds of its own destruction. I love your poem, the reference to your strong heart, and the metaphor of the pine trees. Did you know that the cones only open up when there is a fire? I read that some place. Seems apt.

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  7. It seems hard to find warmth with all that is going on. I felt frozen too not sure when the thaw will come. sigh..

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  8. pine trees slowing
    their sap and feeding their
    roots and cones so seeds
    grow ready for spring.

    Those words made me delighted :) my heart beat happily in my breast when I read them.

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  9. Yes, may we be Pines feeding the seeding deliverance from the current tyrant. Love this poem

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