Winter's Cleansing
For the Frosted Verse Challenge
a crisp, cool, oh-so-fresh breeze
hits my newly-shaven face
as the cleansing of the land begins,
the dew and fallen rain turns to ice
as the warmth of my heart fights,
that irrepressible
crisp, calming
fresh breeze
that coats my skin beyond the threshold of home
until the land is fully transformed,
the frost tops the remaining evergreens
the dawn offers a different joy,
as the sharp bite pierces and
the world glimmers anew,
with the scent of pine and sanitised serenity
the prevailing chill
brings with it
the winter frost's frigid battle
against the heat
emitting from the bodies, abodes and vehicles
staking its claim on the green dominion,
holding fast before edging out
creeping beyond its safe boundaries,
advancing, encroaching on the living
it settles—
and frost conquers
the green and concrete beneath
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: This is for the Frosted Verse Challenge, which you can find out more about below.
In other news, I'm doing the 250-word Microfiction NYC Midnight Challenge for the first time, so that's going to be interesting. I have my word, action and genre and I'm still percolating my ideas, but needed to be quick. Anyway, just dropping that in there. Wishing anyone else who is taking part well!
Here are some other things, including my most recent challenge that is still running:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (13)
A refreshing crispness while also a note on the pervasive nature of cold! This is a great entry, Paul!
This was so calming to read, I love the natural slowness the words add to the development of the story you tell. ‘As the warmth of my heart fights’ wow, it’s too beautiful for me not to take my time. I love how each line had its own flow, its own way of relating to the lines around it. How it all came together so effortlessly but with a motion so very pleasing. You nailed it, I thoroughly enjoyed this Paul 👌🏽👏🏽
This made me so jealous of all you people who have white Christmases😭. I am always mourning the loss of wearing christmas scarves and jumpers and instead just trying to stay cool😤😂 Nice poem though! And I liked the ai art too
Chilly and yet, somehow, refreshing. Well done, my pal across the pond. I've overlooked the misspelling of words like "sanitized." 😂
This piece has a strong, sensory quality to it. Love this! 💌
I don't find winter beautiful like your words
Oooo, would you publish your piece for the Midnight challenge here? I'd love to read it. Your poem was so wonderful 🍩🥐
Ok, how did that cold suddenly reach Louisiana? Here I am chilly after your beautiful poem!
This was beautiful, Paul. I wish we could experience winter here.
Love the image you chose that matches your words so perfectly. How I miss the winters of the past.
You wrote such imagery and captured the true magic of the first frost. Great detail!
Almost wants to make me move back to the snowy plains on the prairies. You captured the season beautifully
Paul this is so delicate and beautiful. It has a real Christmas feel about it. I especially love the idea of the conquering frost. And good luck with NY Midnight - sure you'll do brilliantly!