Wednesday, January 20, 2016

In Winter


In Winter

Our summer walks are flower strewn, fragrant with nicotiana and rose.  The varied repertoire of the mockingbird floats on the breeze all around us and we walk slowly, woman and dog, pacing our steps to the heat of the day.  It is too easy to be dazzled by the sheer lavishness of this season, too easy to be distracted by the colour and the warmth, too easy to miss the magic. 

  But here in heart of grey winter, the familiar pathway crackles with skeletal leaves. Woodsmoke drifts from the chimneys like charcoal drawings that move and change with each gust of wind.  My hands are gloved, a knitted cowl nearly covers my face and Edward’s has fluffed out his fur like a late season dandelion, impervious to the cold.  Our steps as brisk as the air, we gaze upwards as a flock of geese stitches its way through a violet cloud.  We stop where we are,  listening to the holy sound, the flapping of their wings sweeter than harp song, a gift to those who stand still under the stained glass sky of winter. 

And we know we are not alone.  There are tracks next to ours where others have walked.  Paw pad and claw print unknown to my eye, normally hidden underneath green but revealed to us now in the bareness of winter.  Raccoon and Coyote.  Hawk and Owl.  Grey Rabbit.  Red Fox.  Black Crow.  All my fellow parishioners beneath the wild gothic spires of poplar and oak.  I feel their bright eyes follow me home.

Later, when Edward has taken up his place at the foot of my bed and a navy blue darkness envelops the house, the voices of these creatures will carry in the cold night air,  slipping beneath my window, granting me admission to a communion of souls at once mysterious and aeonian, reminding me, once again, that all the world is a cathedral.
I love winter.

Painting above by Carol Collette

22 comments:

  1. How lovely is "the stained glass sky of winter"!

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  2. Lovely! Even though in the south, it's very cold up here at 4000 feet. Wind chill of minus ten or so this morning. The sun is shining brightly, though. However, I don't think I'll be taking a walk today. Just watching the fluffed out birds at the feeder out my window. Hoping for snow later in the week (just had a dusting the last two days). How I do love the winter views where I can see the bones of the mountains, especially as the sun sets, with the slopes and spines picked out in molten gold, and the hollows in deep twilight blue.

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  3. Pamela, you've crafted words that consume all of my senses vividly creating a masterpiece of your soul and love of a dog, Edward. Who says winter isn't beautiful.

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  4. I've read this three times already, trying to become one with this beauty.

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  5. It's lovely to go to Winter with your words Pamela.
    Even if it was only for a short but chilly time.
    Anita xx

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  6. I love the painting! The artist is Carol Collette.

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  7. What a beautiful picture--both the photograph and your words.

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  8. Ah, I see it was a painting. It looks so real!

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  9. I live in a very different world than yours and Edward's, but had a very similar walk this afternoon under clouds and fog and pink light, seeing lots of paw prints in wet earth. Winter is wonderful - even in southern California!

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  10. That's exactly how it is outside tonight! I went down to the mailbox as he came so late, leaving catalogs for cruises and clothes, bills and charity requests. I'd hoped for my English magazine to enjoy by the fire, not today though! The trees looked as in your picture, and the smoke curled from our chimney. Sadly I don't have an Edward, but as always I pictured him with you - thanks Pamela.

    Mary x

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  11. Your words are music to me no matter the season. I love winter too! Thank you for painting beautiful images of things we should all take the time to notice. :-)
    xo,
    Karen

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  12. I too love Winter! I hope that the Songwriter is feeling better.

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    1. He's better than new, Elizabeth!
      Thank you for asking.
      xo

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  13. Winter is my favorite season, and it is late arriving here this year. Thank you for reminding me of it quiet beauty.

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  14. Pamela, this is just so evocative and beautifully thought out. I love you & the puppies & the songwriter too.

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  15. I too love winter from the comfort of my bed or armchair Pamela. But this year our winter has been wind, rain and terrible flooding - not enjoyable.

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  16. Excellent picture, there is something about a smoking chimney that brings me back to my childhood. I now live in Florida and we don't use our fireplace as often as I would like, but when we do, I sit back and really take full advantage of the smell and that warmth on your feet that is like no other feeling.

    Carry Scanlon @ Chim Chimney

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  17. Wow that is really lovely. This is the first piece of yours I have read. I am really looking forward to reading more. I have been into short story blogs recently and they typically run a bit longer but I honestly do not mind. I love how you right and I also love the painting you chose to accompany it.

    Andy Jones @ AQS Comfort

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  18. What great poetry you have shared with us. You have a real talent for words and I think you should really consider publishing these. My husband and I love reading your poetry and reciting it to our children. This kind of art has been lost today and so thank you for re-kindling it and making it current again. Thank you.

    Lane Pemberton @ Metcalfe Heating & Air Conditioning

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!