Winsome Whirl

Free verse poetry

I often find inspiration in the most unexpected moments. One winter day, while gathering produce for my restaurant, I found myself caught in a sudden snowstorm in the Strip District. Unable to navigate the near whiteout conditions, I pulled over at a quiet dead end overlooking a train trellis. There, the world seemed to pause, cloaked in the delicate beauty of falling snow. The moment " equal parts serene and foreboding " held me captive, urging me to capture it in words.

the delicate linger

of a snowflake fall

stilled my journey 

as I gazed in majestic awe

of winters winsome whirl

I wondered to myself

how can something 

so foreboding

be… so beautiful

and I whispered

in a slow exhale

to thank her

I watched 

the ivory cascade of crystals 

silhouetted against 

the old iron train trellis above

like a circuitous waterfall

dashing, darting 

and dotting my vision

before gently resting

on some train tracks 

below

I feel a hesitation

in the snowflakes 

final flight

to graceful surrender

before blanketing 

the stock-still life 

beneath

highlighting

the barren tree branches 

with a pearly frost

immersing my vision

in a scintillating shroud

of suspended animation

enticing me to embrace…

her

how can anything

this beautiful

be so foreboding

© 2025 Robert Trakofler

Author's Note

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

that was amazing. it was hypnotic, much like staring out the window watching snowfall.
the old iron train trellis above
like a circuitous waterfall
dashing, darting
and dotting my vision
... this part really stood out for me. i liked the whole poem but the alliteration with the D's had me smiling ear to ear.
and i like the philosophical ending. how can anything this beautiful be so foreboding? this can be said about a lot of things in the world. this universe is full of contradictions.
anyway, this was a lovely work. i was entranced.

[Robert Trakofler]

it was a fun one to write I just played that video over and over and let the words roll out but the thought how could anything so beautiful be so foreboding struck me when i was staring at the train trellis waiting for the storm to lighten up

[Dara]

This is simply stunning! Your poem is especially relatable today as we are getting a substantial amount of snow falling today in my area of NC. I would never be able to describe it as elegantly as you have done here but it fits perfectly with my mood.

Love the video and hearing your voice in the background gives it a wonderful personal touch.

[Robert Trakofler]

thanks Dara, its crazy cold here in Pittsburgh not too much snow but chilly chilly chilly:) It was one of those days when everything came together in a most splendid scene when i filmed that:)

[Kelly Scheppers]

All snows are majestic, when you think of the beauty those miniscule flakes can leave behind. But they can make quite an impact and complicate our lives just the same. Your voice made the difference for me, Robert. It gave such a personal feel to your words, like the pages to a book.

[Robert Trakofler]

Hi Kelly so nice to hear from you:) I have been working on my first book of poetry so I'm not "on" as much as I would like:) its so easy for me to get distracted on these sights LOL I really enjoyed this poem in terms of the encounter even tho I was stuck in the snow LOL

[Poetic Beauty]

Snow is beautiful but it can be foreboding. If you don’t have to be out in it, it’s magical and spellbinding to watch.

I enjoyed this poem. The smooth flow and wording is done exceptionally well

[Robert Trakofler]

Thank you for stopping by:)

[Poetic Beauty]

You are welcome

[Betty Hermelee]

An awesome description of an otherwise natural event, occurring many times during wintertime ....sometimes it surprises us because we are not expecting it..other times it can be a stunning, mysterious event, impressing us to the point of being in awe of it.... snow is soothing, and beautiful to watch...especially against the backdrop of a trellis...it can be light and airy or thick and blustery....I like way you described blurry vision which snow often does to our eyes.... vivid imagery!
Thank you for sharing...
Warmly, B

[Robert Trakofler]

Hey Betty:) winter has always been a combination of beautiful and foreboding to me it’s cold uninhabitable uninviting and stark and at the same time so damn splendorous and beautiful I can equate so many parallels to it; love, life, death and even the promise of renewal in many ways snow is like living poetry in the bunny’s eyes :) thanks you for your reflections on my reflections and taking the time to read them

[Betty Hermelee]

It was very worthwhile Robert, my pleasure🌷🌷
Warmly
B😊

[Pryde Foltz]

You created a treat of sound and image. This is everything the best poetry is. Huzzah:)

[Robert Trakofler]

Coming from someone as beautiful and foreboding as you I’m gonna call that one hell of a compliment

[Pryde Foltz]

Foreboding .... why? LOL

[Robert Trakofler]

:) :) :) :) :)

[Lydia Shutter]

It's been many years since I watched a snowfall. Still, I remember thinking how beautiful it was...till I had to shovel it or drive through it. I loved the alliteration sprinkled throughout. Robert, you have a lovely way of looking at the world. Lydi**

[Robert Trakofler]

Hi Lydia:) I have many snowbird friends that live in Florida these days:) thanks for such a nice compliment on my poem!

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous work. Well crafted.

[Robert Trakofler]

thank you Thomas

[Robert Trakofler]

Thank you Thomas

[Relic]

This is one of the reasons I keep visiting this site. Such a beautifully written poem and video, Robert.

[Robert Trakofler]

Thanks old friend every once in a while you run into one of those moments

[Neville]

Your exquisite ink captures a moment and vista frozen in time brother Robert .. More atmospherical than a hot air balloon & colder than permafrost .. Made me reach for my significant others thick woolen shawl & no messin .. One of your biggest fans .. Me 😎👍

[Robert Trakofler]

you have always been one of my greatest teachers in the Cafe I have spent many hours over the years absorbing your ink so needless to say I have been one of yours too! thank you this one did come out nicely... since my heart attacks it has taken me 3 years for me to really get back my pen but i think its all the more shiny for it

[Neville]

You have a golden nib dear friend .. write on bro and always .. Neville

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that picture and this poem are so expressive....I love pictures with no people in them...just nature and inanimate objects that do seem to have a life of their own....we just have to look harder to see it.
j.

[Robert Trakofler]

lol in this instance nature hit me over the head with a crowbar! I couldn’t drive anymore it was white out conditions in my van so I just pulled over and went down a dead end street and poof this was my view