The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide

Frozen-A Collaboration With Shane Cooper

The frozen sap of mirthless trees,
The fractured flow of icy streams.

The howling wind that claws at life, 
The forest shrouded in endless white.

Skeletal ice hangs from warm lit homes,
....brittle fingers, glacial bones!

Gibbous moon with light unclean, 
Casting shadows barely seen.

Wide tongues of sleet lick hands and feet, 
Frost etched people on lacquered streets.

Witches Sabbat the darkest rite,
All doors are barred on Halloween night!

Children sleeping, tucked tight in bed,
While witches brooms fly overhead.

Cock’s crow sounds in the dark of night,
Putting the cabal to frenzied flight!

The children waken then start to yawn,
Their smiling faces greet the new dawn.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Loving Iii Avatar
July 10, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Loved it.
Dietrich Avatar
August 8, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Very cool collab with some interesting lines . Those days of fall are on their way!!!
Mac Donald Avatar
August 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Phew, only 3 more days, supposedly, of suffocating heat; then I can complain about the cold!
Loving Iii Avatar
July 11, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I'm smiling! because the first piece I read usually isn't this good. I'm counting on you to see it find publication. 2016 wow where have you been. That's a long time to lose a poetic voice.
Mac Donald Avatar
July 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Ouch, strangely that question mark appears, can change the context and dynamics of a comment, wouldn't you say? I would never publish a poem without the other writers consent. He truly is a marvelous poet!
Mac Donald Avatar
July 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Thank you John for this heat felt comment ??
Agustin Avatar
May 18, 2024 at 6:04 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
Mac Donald Avatar
August 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Thank you Beata! God's blessings to you as well!
Scott Avatar
April 19, 2024 at 7:01 PM
I love a good collaboration! My favourite line " Gibbous moon with light unclean" - any poem where the moon gets a mention.. nicely done. Sam :)
Mac Donald Avatar
August 14, 2025 at 3:36 AM
That part was all Shane!
Dietrich Avatar
October 1, 2023 at 9:32 PM
Wow what a great collaboration. Very creative lines
Mac Donald Avatar
October 3, 2023 at 12:49 PM
Thanks so much Andrea! It had been a joy and a privilege writing the poem with Shane
Wolf Avatar
June 19, 2017 at 3:44 PM
Don't you just love a good collaboration! Well done to both poets! Enjoyed
Mac Donald Avatar
June 22, 2017 at 10:20 AM
Thank you White Wolf, I couldn't have wished for a nicer person to write with.:)
Neels Avatar
June 13, 2017 at 7:16 AM
This is a great collaboration Mikki. Enjoyed every line :)
Mac Donald Avatar
June 22, 2017 at 10:21 AM
Thank you, Wilma!
Robinson Jr. Avatar
May 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Very cool collab poem, Michelle. Hats off to Shane too. I loved the Gothic vibe to this sweet poetry piece. Well written and superb imagery. Love always.
Mac Donald Avatar
June 22, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Thanks for your kindness, Freddie! :) Today I thawed out, wasn't fun sitting on an iceberg.:))
Bateman Avatar
November 15, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Hello Mikki!! I'm really glad that I caught this collaborated couplet write by you and Shane Cooper. What a real treat to read -- for sure. I've written my fair share couplets and heroic couplets, but this one is an insightful and exciting write for sure. The words, the pitch, and the tenor of this write are "Muy Excellente"!! SEVEN/FAV!! Cheers and Best, Gary
Mac Donald Avatar
November 16, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Thanks Gary! I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Shane, he is a veritable gem of a person! Best wishes, and the greatest luck with your writing! Best wishes, Mikki
Devonshire Avatar
November 3, 2016 at 1:18 PM
Autumn must be very cold where you live, Michelle. You and Shane write well together and I could not figure out who wrote which verses. You have created some fine images of the cold weather, and especially vivid is that witch flying over children's home. Awesome!
Mac Donald Avatar
November 16, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Autumn is so so...not yet cold enough for the snow, though I know it's only a matter of time. The grass is still green, although the trees are mostly bare. Somewhat of a paradox. Thank you for you lovely comments!:) Best wishes to you! Mikki
Austin Avatar
October 26, 2016 at 11:17 AM
"Gibbous moon with light unclean...Casting shadows barely seen" I like this image for a Halloween night. And then the children sleeping neath all the spookiness. Love, daver
Mac Donald Avatar
October 29, 2016 at 8:32 AM
Thanks for the comment, Daver! We could have been swept up by a snowy avalanche, however Shane pulled this into a safe zone. A bright and inspiring man! Whoooo...Happy Halloween:) Love, Mikki
Cooper Avatar
October 14, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Hello there Mikki, Thank you so much for letting me walk down the yellow brick road a little way with you my friend. The world looks so much better "with tangerine trees and marmalade skies" !!!! :-)
A   Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 11:24 AM
Shane Cooper is one of my favorite poets. I love the 3rd couplet set. The imagery and flow are perfect no wonder why Jan&Tim gave the lovely collaboration two thumbs up. Make it three... a fav... Linda
Allison Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 1:02 PM
I hope Shane will now be more active on the site Linda - its a lovely collaboration and the imagery is wonderful:-) hugs Jan xx
Mac Donald Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 12:59 PM
Thank you Linda :) Shane is a wonderful poet to work with! At times we might stand with one foot in Oz and the other in a rabbit hole, but he has the ability to allow us to walk away.
Allison Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 8:33 AM
The imagery is fabulous Michelle and Shane - a wonderful collaboration:-) so glad to see you back on the site with Shane:-) a fave:-) hugs Jan xx
Mac Donald Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 12:48 PM
Thank you, Jan :) Shane had taken the poem and at the end, rolled it in icing sugar, we were no longer snow people.:)) It would have been irksome having a carrot nose.
Smith Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 8:15 AM
This is terrific Michelle and Shane...the flow was spot on...really loved it...a fav
Mac Donald Avatar
October 13, 2016 at 1:13 PM
Thanks Tim for your generous comment! I will take a look at your own writes now.:)
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace