Nowhere in Particular (Ravin' Ink Group Submission for 1/18 - Wind)

If the race had never lived through a winter what would they think was coming? - Thoreau

wind howled frigid

the pond grew hard

hard enough to skate upon

as day handed night the baton with a wink and yawn

it was late and everything was closed but we could skate

to our hearts content

from nowhere

to nowhere

around a perimeter of life and earthly contemplation

beneath a silvery moon

on top of tomorrow's noon

a place where pure hearts are hewn and owls are always in perfect tune

a sacred realm where lovers hold hands and swoon

our own version of an arctic june

nowhere in particular

not a moment too soon

Author's Note

"Every winter the liquid and trembling surface of the pond, which was so sensitive to every breath, and reflected every light and shadow, becomes solid to the depth of a foot or a foot and a half so that it will support the heaviest teams, and perchance the snow covers it to an equal depth, and it is not to be distinguished from any level field. Like the marmots in the surrounding hills, it closes its eyelids and becomes dormant for three months or more. Standing on the snow-covered plain, as if in a pasture amid the hills, I cut my way first through a foot of snow, and then a foot of ice, and open a window under my feet, where, kneeling to drink, I look down into the quiet parlor of the fishes, pervaded by a softened light as through a window of ground glass, with its bright sanded floor the same as in summer; there a perennial waveless serenity reigns as in the amber twilight sky, corresponding to the cool and even temperament of the inhabitants. Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Listening to Hendrix while writing to you ..... Your piece is so descriptive of a frigid night scene upon the ice, hard enough to skate on...and two lovers perhaps sliding along holding hands "Two are hewn and always in perfect tune"...i like the subtle romantic tone...love cannot come too soon, even though it is not June!
Lovely write Pete!
Warmly, B

[Pete]

yes, thanks for the warm kindness on this frigid day after a night's snow. the mold certainly was broken was hendrix was made. thanks b.

[Betty Hermelee]

most welcome my friend!🌷🌷🌷
warmly, B

[Soren]

This painted image conveys many possible metaphors. One might be that of the mind like the pond has its periods of fluidity and those where it is frozen. In such times one becomes frozen in our thoughts now obsessive and stuck circle round and round as a skater on a pond.

[Pete]

great interpretation. good insight. thank you for lacing up your skates.

[MCS]

Its rare moments like this that make winter tolerable. Lovely piece of writing Pete.

[Pete]

indeed. thank you for sharing.

[Kelly Scheppers]

This is beautiful, Pete. I've never skated, but have always admired the beauty of the ice. "Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads!" Now, that's a mesmerizing dance.

[Pete]

there is a unique freedom in ice skating. all of creation and what it gifts us is magnificent.

[Thomas W Case]

Great work Pete. The use of the senses and the imagery is powerful. Love Hendrix.

[Pete]

thanks twc.

[Samuel Dickens]

In writing this, I think you may have channeled a bit of Thoreau. For me, I'm taken back to childhood when my friends and I played upon a small frozen pond. Your descriptions are fantastic, and I much enjoyed the scene. You know I love Hendrix, too.

[Thomas W Case]

Superb writing. Love Hendrix.

[Pete]

thanks for lacing up your skates twc. keep out of the cold.

[Dylan Macadham]

Yes, even when the whole world is in turmoil we can put it out of our minds for a bit, and go skating on a pond :)

[Pete]

absolutely. thanks dylan.

[carl]

like the way you ended this piece, very personal and fulfilling - "day handed night the baton with a wink and yawn" a really beautiful line - carl

[Pete]

thanks carl and hope you're keeping warm.

[Starr]

Love that last stanza, Hendrix was amazing

[Pete]

glad it spoke to you. thanks for the kind thoughts. may your 'starr' always shine.