Winter Paints December On Lake Erie

If you look closely, you will see
the masterpiece Winter painted
along mighty Erie’s shore
in the darkness, well into the early morning light.

You will see his fondness for delicate shades of gray,
How one by one he bends and sheaths the tall ornamental grass
in rounded silvery whiteness, and
how he paints ripply footprints at the water’s edge.

If you look closely, you will see
the fluttering gulls in the distance,
Seemingly small, yet not insignificant,
Every detail a pixel of life.

There’s more, if you look closer,
If you’re willing to brazen the biting wind,
Like the pile of jagged sticks, and mossy green rocks from summer,
Now a single creamy white ice sculpture.

And if you hold your eyes and heart wide open,
you can read the painter’s signature
written in the battleship gray sky—
December
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Lamoureux Avatar
March 13, 2024 at 10:09 AM
We live on Lake Okanagan in Kelowna. It’s not a Great Lake but we love living here.
Iannone  Avatar
March 13, 2024 at 11:56 AM
Sounds beautiful!
Lamoureux Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 6:02 AM
Excellent use of personification. It is indeed a spectacular lake. I though I would start with your first offering to the soup.
Iannone  Avatar
March 13, 2024 at 7:23 AM
Thank you, Richard. We lived on the lake for a time. It was delightful. Lake Erie: where the water is as unpredictable as a cat on a hot tin roof, but the adventures are as endless as its shoreline.
Craychee Avatar
December 25, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Brilliant. Powerful imagery.
Craychee Avatar
December 25, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Brilliant. Just loved the imagery.
Iannone  Avatar
December 31, 2017 at 10:26 AM
William, thank you for reading my poem and the very kind comment.
Iannone  Avatar
December 25, 2017 at 12:39 PM
William, thank you for the kind comment. Lake Erie is quite poetic! Merry Christmas! Don
One Avatar
December 23, 2017 at 11:08 AM
An excellent first post, I can see you are an accomplished writer.. Welcome to poetry soup Don..
Iannone  Avatar
December 23, 2017 at 2:56 PM
Silent One, thank you for the kind comment and welcome. I hope to read some of your poems soon. Best wishes for the Holidays!
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