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Winter Shuffle

when winter woke and dealt its hand
it froze the heart of cumberland
as icy air dispersed in spades
to twist and cut like razor blades.

small pools of water turned to glass
to shine like diamonds in the grass
while freezing sprays from waterfalls
formed icicles on wet stone walls.

when nature's breath turned all air warm
the earth embraced another form:
the snow that fell - now sadly gone
decked out a land that looked as one.

if elements of that year's weather
could club the fells and fields together
why can't mankind just do the same
and follow suit - and raise its game?

Copyright © Gary Radice | Year Posted 2020

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Ramatu Suleiman Date: 1/29/2023 10:00:00 PM The creativity flows really well,the language,the simplicity and complexity of the writing,the ryhme and ryhthm "the icy air dispersed in spades,to twist and cut like razor blades" I especially love these lines. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/30/2023 5:56:00 AM Thank you so much Ramatu for your visit, read and lovely comments. It's very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Susan Ashley Date: 9/6/2022 5:04:00 PM Dear Gary, your clever creativity inspires my heart’s imagination with your insight into humanity, your beautiful imagery, lovely rhymes and meter and great use of language. On its surface this is a poem about a beautiful frozen landscape but beneath the icy facade is a deep and thought-provoking poem.. indeed, it’s time for mankind to unify and raise its game! Congratulations for your excellent win in Mark’s contest. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 9/7/2022 9:45:00 AM Indeed, Gary, I share your love of the snow’s unifying quality and quieting comfort it’s white blanket places upon the broken landscape. I live in New England and I so love a snowy winter and the muffled stillness a snowfall brings. Gary Radice Date: 9/7/2022 9:32:00 AM Thank you Susan for your lovely comments. I love how the snow unifies the land and casts a blanket of silence over it. The poem is based on several winter walks my wife and I have taken in the English Lake District over the years. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman Date: 8/29/2022 10:09:00 AM Gary, I always anticipate a magic carpet ride when I see one of your poems listed and I certainly was not disappointed in any way. The intricacy of this poem as evidenced by all of John's observations leaves a footprint on the soul's landscape. Congratulations on your win. Cheers! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/30/2022 12:38:00 PM Hi Sam! Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I love your idea of a magic carpet ride. Funny thing is I never have a clue what the carpet has in store for me when I hop on it - It and I just land somewhere :) I've yet to read your winning entry Sam in the contest but will take a flight over there soon to have a look. :) Cheers - Gary

John Watt Date: 8/29/2022 8:22:00 AM Gary, reading your poetry makes me happy. I can't tell you how enjoyable this poem was for me: first in gliding over it like skates on a frozen stream just taking in the imagery and the delightful flow of meter and precision in rhyming; second time through absorbing its message of the unifying snow effect has on the landscape and how humanity ought to emulate it in unity; third time catching your inclusion of all four playing card suits, as well as your beginning with 'dealt its hand' and ending with 'suit' and 'game'. Brilliant throughout! Adding this to my Faves collection. Sincere congratulations for your markathon win. Cheers ~ John Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/29/2022 8:51:00 AM Thanks John. I thoroughly enjoyed your poem 'Play On Words' that won in the marathon competition too. I would recommend everyone read John's entry. It's so clever. This poem is an 'oldie' but one I am quite fond of. Yes, all four suits are in there along with the terms you mentioned John with 'twist' and 'cut' too just for good measure. Thanks again. PS: Cumberland (now called Cumbria) is a historic county in North West England that is bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish counties of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire to the north. Cheers - Gary

Mark Toney Date: 8/26/2022 10:58:00 AM Gary, this is a cleverly written poem, brilliantly applied to our current situation. What the world needs now is love and a "Winter Shuffle" that will "(produce) a land that (looks) as one." Congratulations on your win on Mile 12 of my 2022 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 13 has already started! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/27/2022 1:17:00 AM Thank you Mark. It's one of the handful of poems I wrote during my first few months here at PS. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France Date: 8/26/2022 8:01:00 AM Gary, wonderfully written and congratulations on your win in the contest ~ Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/27/2022 1:13:00 AM Thanks Constance. I'll have a read through of the winners over the weekend. I'd actually forgotten that I had entered this for Mark's contest. Cheers - Gary

Michael Ponnambalam Date: 11/22/2020 11:32:00 PM Enjoyed your poem on Winter, Gary Radice. Nice rhyme and good description. The following words appealed to me the most: Small pools of water turned to glass To shine like diamonds in the grass. Keep it up. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 11/23/2020 12:39:00 AM Thanks Michael! I appreciate your comments. Cheers - Gary

Old Buck Date: 11/20/2020 1:02:00 PM Gary: You made it possible I could enjoy the winter in doors with out freezing my toes or seeing my breathe. Thank you for sharing your insight with all of us on the soup. oldbuck Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 11/20/2020 1:23:00 PM Thanks again Old buck. I love trying to recreate atmospheres and images in my poems that I remember from childhood. Cheers - Gary

Geoffrey Brewer Date: 9/27/2020 6:26:00 AM Lovely well observed images expressed in flowing rhythmic verse. My kind of poetry! Well written, Gary Login to Reply

Geoffrey Brewer Date: 9/27/2020 6:25:00 AM Lovely well observed images expressed in flowing rhythmic verse. My kind of poetry! Well written, Gary Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 9/27/2020 1:20:00 PM Geoffrey, thank you so much for your lovely comments. It didn't take me long to write this one as it all just came together in a way I wanted it to and in a way that I was pleased with. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier Date: 4/19/2020 9:41:00 PM Fun poem. The rhythm and flow is great. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 4/30/2020 4:54:00 PM Thank you Line :)

Indiana Shaw Date: 4/17/2020 6:18:00 PM Beautiful imagery, and a truly meaningful moral message there, a well-deserved placing, enjoyed . . . : ) Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 4/18/2020 4:01:00 AM Thank you Indiana for your comments. It's very much appreciated.