Wednesday, January 19, 2011

alone on a winter's night


it's flag-whipping cold

my essence brother du mu wrote poems so very long ago
and yet
they're right here
right now
like me

grasping
at the essence
of cold winter aloneness

~

outside the window, wind and snow blow straight,
i clutch the stove and open a flask of wine.

~

later on, liu zong yuan arrived in a similar space when he wrote;

not a bird in miles flying in the cold,
on all roads and tracks, not even a soul.
only one old man with a grass hat and shawl,
fishing in his lonely boat in the snow.

~

oh man it's cold and lonely ...

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

How do you manage to bring in the pristine winter and it's flag-whipping cold so well to your posts. This is my second visit here (from Ruth's) and I sense the depth of your emotions even today.

I am your latest follower.

Priya

Dan Gurney said...

Come, sit by my fire. I'll make tea.

Joanna said...

It does look chilly Steven. Hope you're warm and cozy tonight.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Interesting steven, particularly as last night I went out into the cold and it was cutting - and I thought of the homeless and how they would cope on such a night.

Lisa Ursu said...

"outside the window, wind and snow blow straight,
i clutch the stove and open a flask of wine."
oh yeah,
yes indeed!

Golden West said...

Spring is just a few weeks away already!

Reya Mellicker said...

Spring will definitely come again ... not fast enough though, eh?

Valerianna said...

Our flag-whipping cold has turned into freezing rain and ice weather, on top of all that gorgeous powder, its a shame.... I clutch the stove and steep another cup of tea, maybe I should try the flask of wine, instead?

Linda Sue said...

Time to hunker down, go inside, cut up paper and glue it back together and drink a bit of brandy in your tea. Always a comfort...

alaine@éclectique said...

Brrrr, I get the picture! Sending you some warmth from Australia; we're in for a hot week!

Pauline said...

I've been cold but I've yet to be lonely. I should think the two together would be quite awful.

steven said...

hi priya - welcome and thankyou for your generous comment! i'm not sure i can answer your question "how" but maybe "why". because for some strange reason i have to and i really like having to! see you. steven

steven said...

dan - i believe that'll happen some time soon. but in oregon. hmmmm. steven

steven said...

well joanna thanks. i am actually. blessed i am. steven

steven said...

weaver, we open cold rooms in my town and thankfully most of the men and women who chose the street or who were chosen by the street, know to come in on the truly cold nights. steven

steven said...

liza - oh yeah!!! steven

steven said...

golden west - seriously?! hmmmm. steven

steven said...

reya - i'm not minding this winter a whole lot but ...but i am missing my friends colour and light a whole lot more than i usually do but i just haven't had my eyes as wide open as i usually do either. steven

steven said...

valerianna - i like the crystal skies, the deep snow, the thin wind. but the hovering miasmic weather is hard for some reason this year. steven

steven said...

linda sue thanks for the so very linda sue tips!!! steven

steven said...

alaine - i am so glad for you. i know you guys wrestle through winter also. not quite the same as us but in a relative sort of way. steven

steven said...

pauline - yeah it's just voices in my head!!! steven

Bee said...

Oh dear, it sounds terribly bleak.
I would definitely be reaching for the wine . . .

We've had cold frost this week, but also some precious, lovely sun! I've taken long walks every morning and it's done wonders for my mood.

Hope you have a thaw soon, Steven.