A windless freeze
sets the lake early this year,
black ice.
Stare down hard
into this watery clearing
and see all the way to springtime:
leaves become trees that sway,
fish crouch in their bones awaiting
the iridescent thaw,
pollen, roe, and eggs hatch into
raucous food.
I watch my husband and son skate
in and out of another winter,
their itineraries marked in scrapings,
accompanied by croaking ice
and the shadow of crows.
by Lynne Shapiro
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Love the rasp and birth and darkness winding among one another. Crisp. Last two lines are a hugely satisfying conclusion.
beautiful imagery, beautifully written and I too love the ending…
Love the true nature and that I can hear the poets voice. Wonderful!
Strong, evocative word pairings–the particular and the large revealing one another.