Nor'easter Dance

Comments, thoughts and suggestions welcomed and appreciated.

Temperatures fall chilling rose skin

Dark clouds horizontal and low

Grey woolen blankets wrapped round kin

Frothing stew, Nor'easter winds blow 

Polar bear gusts blasting West East

Novembers witch spring in her steps 

Ice queen descends tropical feast

Conflicted forces hot cold depths

Lightning flashes cracked canvas numb

Ghost images in falling hail

Submerged cars to forces succumb 

Roads transmuted, rivers from gail

Sudsy eruption sea walls dashed

Drunk on tropical cool cocktails

Destructive sight, glorious bash

Conjoin fire and ice folktales

Intrigued, human nature looks on

Its sight beguiles the senses

Natural muscles flexing brawn

Reminder how weak our fences

One final wave Nor'easter ends

Disorienting the Silence

Polar bear sleeps white curtain falls

The witch curtsey's exits stage North

Reviews

[Snowingphoenix]

First off, I love the imagery in this! The way you personified the Noreaster is very natural as if I could see the storm doing the things you describe, as a person as well as the natural force that it is. It has a natural poetic tone that isn't too overdramatic either so that is also a big plus. The stanzas that stood out to me were the 4th and 6th ones, especially since they had some key descriptive words and human attributes. I felt as if I could feel the brisk wind of a Noreaster while reading this and that's what writing ought to do; take you to that scene, and make you feel as if you are in the action. Overall, a lovely poem!

[Nigel Newman]

Hi Karen. Unusually for SW England in mid March we have our second significant snowfall in about three weeks. When I say significant, I'm talking ... oh, 5cm perhaps!!!!! News covered with it, relegating Russian poisoning and Brexit to 30 second slots. Never mind what other countries get - this is real winter! So I laugh in the face of your nor'easter - we hardy English would prevail above such gentle forces. Oh wait; what was that you said about polar bear gusts; and submerged cars; and ice queen? Well maybe you get it bad sometimes too :=)). Some lovely chilling brush strokes on a canvas, which as you say, is cracked and numb. Perhaps I'll stay here. Very nice work! BRs Nigel.

[Karen Redburn]

Hi Nigel, 5 whole cm's? Say it isn't so! Sadly the same thing is happening here, rain storms are no longer a few drops of water, now the news reports as "events". And forget the fact we have 10-25cm's of snow quite a few times during a a normal Canadian winter, nope now they are caused by "polar vortex" and may lead to a state of emergency... sigh. I'm in southern Ontario, Canada so we don't see the nor'easter's but this was inspired by the storms in Eastern Canada and the US. The storms were deadly and I understand they had 3 in two weeks, which is unusual. The invitation is open my friend. It is so lovely to walk the streets of Toronto in the winter time. The temps a balmy -30 at times and the ice sculptures are a beautiful sight! Thank you for the review and cheers! (we can make that a hot toddy, if you prefer) :)

[Nigel Newman]

Karen, I think we'd spend nearly all our 'outdoor' time in the covered walkways. That said, when we were in Lapland we were supplied with the right clothing and we were happily wandering round in -15. And they have roads that are white for months, but all the vehicles are equipped with special tyres and can travel quite fast.

Yes these days our Met Office can no longer just say they forecast moderate snow - they have to issue a yellow or amber warning. Those sustained winter storms you describe sound horrific and quite scary. Towns can run out of food, power lines can be disrupted, etc.

Thanks for the invitation. Our family actually holidayed in your area about 15 years. We stayed in Toronto, then Niagara, the all the way to Huntsville, then finishing in Ottawa. We've also been around NS, PEI etc, and we're looking at fly-drive around Southern Quebec; so we're quite the Canada junkies. (Maybe the west sometime but we've only 2 yrs back been in Washington State ending in the San Juan islands looking across at Vancouver Island).

[Karen Redburn]

The concourse (covered walkways) are the warmest option to travel Toronto. We visited NB and PEI two years back along with Quebec. Old Quebec city is so pretty. Last year we were in the Vermont and Maine area. Spending so much time East over the last two years had me thinking on the wonderful people we met and the nor'easter storms they were hit with.

It sounds like you and your family enjoy Canada, and I am happy to hear that! Checking out Vancouver island from from the San Juan islands sounds beautiful.

If you do come back to Ontario I would suggest checking out Point Pelee (if you haven't already). It is West however you can grab a pick on the 42nd parallel which is at the tip of Point Pelee National Park and is the southern most point in Canada. Also they have an excellent wine tour. :)

[Dave]

Karen - you portray some very powerful and graphic images. Having just experienced a tremendous Nor'easter I can rerun it through my mind with your words. Very nicely done.

Take care - Dave

[Karen Redburn]

Thank you so much for the kind review. It must have been quite an experience! I am a southern Ontario lady, however have always been intrigued with the East. We have spent time in both Maine and also P.E.I. The storms, people and beautiful landscapes have always drawn me.

[Dave]

I'm originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey. we got some snow down there when i was a child, but nothing like what we've been getting recently.

Ontario huh? My wife and I honeymooned just outside Quebec city. We went back several times we love Canada! Haven't been there for a while. Hmmmmm think it might be time for a visit.

Take care -

[Karen Redburn]

The storms are becoming more severe all over. I have to be honest, we get snow storms pretty much every winter so they don't surprise me much. But what I love is the idea of the storm and snow over the ocean. Something I have yet to experience.

Honeymoon just outside of Quebec? I assume you visited Old Quebec city? Come on over Canada, Ontario, and specifically Toronto has lots of new stuff to offer!

Cheers!

[Dave]

When I taught 8th grade one of our end of the year destinations was Niagara Falls and Toronto. What a super clean city! Took the kids to, a dinner theater there on Young Street. The whole experience was fantastic.

Take care - Dave

[Norman 223]

Your descriptions are poetically worded, but the images are so graphic. My favourite line is
"Sudsy eruption sea walls dashed". I live near the sea and love photographing waves and foam pattern, but this analogy had never occurred to me before Excellent!!.

[Karen Redburn]

Thank you for the kind comments. Funny you mention the "Sudsy eruption" I was watching a clip of the nor'easter just before writing this and that was the word image that came to me. Cheers!

[danny]

So nice really good lots of talent i'm jealous

[Karen Redburn]

Thanks, this was a learning experience. Started reading up on these storms hitting parts of tje world over the past few weeks and realized why many like to write on storms. Cheers!

[Davidgeo]

You could shorten this without losing much effect. It's pretty dandy as it is, I might just be a word economy Nazi.

Have you ever gone up to the northern parts of your country? Like, above the artic circle?

The cold is quite terrifying. You'll never forget it. (after which you might move to California or Florida)

[Karen Redburn]

Thank you for commenting. I love words and a bit of a hopeless romantic at times when it comes to storms. I can economise words and have done so in other poems. This one is more of a poetic story I guess. Never gone above the Arctic Circle, but -35 C winters here is more than enough for me. One day Florida may well be an option for us :) Thank you for commenting and the valuable input. Cheers!

[Neville]

A complex, timely and most apt write as ever there was................N

[Karen Redburn]

Yes, so many parts of the UK and the states hit with wild storms over the past week. Nor'easters have always interested me. The old legends and now the science behind them, truly awe inspiring stuff!

[Neville]

Good Morning Karen... Yes, truly awe inspiring