Sunday, December 21, 2008

One Single Impression: A Winter's Day


This week's prompt for One Single Impression is "A Winter's Day." We are having one here on this Winter Solstice day. We had about 8 inches of snow yesterday and we're having more as I type. I'm not very happy with my haiku. I couldn't seem to find my voice this morning - that and a number of distractions - mean I'm posting this quite late. The sun has come out since this morning, though, which is nice. Snow looks pretty even if there is too much of it.





The last photo and poem are about six years old and date to when I first moved back East after a difficult stay in Arizona. (If you click on the photo, you can see the curve sign. It is a very sharp curve indeed.)


CURVES IN THE ROAD

Snow like white shade on naked trees

Lakeside beauty: Cold. Clear. Still.

And I sit here angry and sad

Not knowing why I am ready - but unable - to cry
Grey kitty howls my blues for me and I scold her

She is demanding my attention

Not just to her but to myself

She is smart this old grey girl

Her twenty years of life have taught her a thing or two

More than my fifty-four have taught me, I'm afraid.

So I scowl at her instead of crying

Tell her quite unkindly to "SHUT UP!"

Then go back to what I do worst and best

Feeling restless and lost and rather sorry for myself

Outside the wind blows snow off the trees

And the twenty mile an hour curve sign

Is blurred through the glass

But makes me think that maybe there's a lesson here

I'm wanting to race past these feelings that are coming up in me

These emotional sharp curves

When what I really need to do is slow down and take heed.


~ Katherine Rabenau

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Really wonderful wintry post - the photos are lovely and your words capture the cold with some much needed humor - it's just plain cold and blustery around here, and I'm afraid I've misplaced my humor at the moment!

Kathie Brown said...

You and I have traded places for I am from New England and now live in Arizona! I am remembering too, a short time in Idaho, a place I love. While I like your haiku's, your longer poem is what speaks to me as so often I let the emotions and memories race past trying to avoid them because I don't want to deal. There is always a sharp curve ahead, isn't there?

sgreerpitt said...

the first three photos capture the chill beauty of the present; the fourth photo fits the frustration of the poem.

anthonynorth said...

Loved these - especially the third haiku.

gabrielle said...

The poem is so beautiful. Snow blowing off the trees. And in the chill of winter, this old gray girl

Looks in the rear view mirror.



Solstice blessings, Raven.

SandyCarlson said...

Just thinking about those sharp curves and the frustrations of getting to know the road. It's easy for me to forget to slow down and actually read the signs.

Anonymous said...

I like the first haiku the best, autumn to winter, perfectly put

Quiet Paths said...

I know you are disliking the cold. Me too at 5 above right now. But you always seem to find beauty in the stills you create with your words and photos. You do that well.

Carletta said...

These are wonderful Raven!

Gosh, you've had a lot of snow. It's very cold here and the wind howls outside but no snow.
I forgot about the solstice - days are getting longer again - yeah!

Joyce said...

Raven, I very much enjoyed your haiku stanzas, especially the one about autumn being sculpted into something new. :)

Beth P. said...

Hi Raven--
Thanks for sharing this snapshot--in the poem...speaks a lot...

The haiku were beautiful as well--and the photos!!

Enjoyed this a lot--

Anonymous said...

A cold winter's day
IS just a memory.
I love Hawaii.

Jeeves said...

The haiku is wonderful. Loved the pictures and poem.

Liked these lines a lot

"I'm wanting to race past these feelings that are coming up in me
These emotional sharp curves "

NAVAL LANGA said...

I have come here from Ms. Kathie's blogs. I have read some of your posts and wold like to revisit.

If you like short stories and paintings, then a short visit to my blogs would be a refreshing event.

Naval Langa
http://cleanfiction.blogspot.com/

Tumblewords: said...

Beautiful photos and words! It's hardest to 'still down' when it's not by choice. Very well said...

qualcosa di bello said...

i raise my steaming mug of coffee to your winter tribute...those photos are appreciated because i would not ever see that where we live now

JP/deb said...

I love the ending of this poem Katherine ... it is what many of us need to do, slow down and take heed of our emotional landscape and experience. Peace, JP/deb

spacedlaw said...

Lovely haiga (even if they made me shudder).

gautami tripathy said...

Great post. Love the photos and the verses!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

all in a days work

Patois42 said...

I agree that the haiga are shiver-inducing, and I also agree that they are all so wonderful.

Anonymous said...

..A Very Merrry Christmas!
..& Thanks for sharing ur poems..

Jim said...

Yes, thank you for sharing. I liked you Haiku poems, they were peppy and bright for the winter's day.
Your longer poem now, you have a mood there that is ready for spring. "And it isn't even spring." I've been on that road and just barely slowed down enough, literally and figuratively. I won't say more except fasten your seat belt.
Now, my favorite wish, 'may your holiday be "bright".'
..

Anonymous said...

Hello!
I'm out exploring tonight!
I love your poem! I like a pinch of humor in my poetry, too.
~Angie