“Snow Storm” collage by Vera Simons
the air crinkles
like cellophane
clinging to skin
each inhale
an icy shock
shuddering lungs
each exhale a
gelid cold cloud
soft beards become
stiff wired brushes
and tears turn to
gemstones set
still on the cheek
arctic needles
prick pores
frigid stings
into layers of
muslin and down
till the core vents
the last of its
organic warmth
ahh
the bracing brisk joy
of a life sharp and
clean in the fierce
freezing throes of
a rigorous winter
(originally posted January 2014)
Poesy plus Polemics 
Lovely poem. Sounds like you’re enjoying the current Deep Freeze 🙂
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I do love the winter
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It shows in the verse 🙂
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Got Coffee???
Stay Warm!!!
Take Care and God Bless 🙂 Kenny T
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coffee by the gallon
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Good timing!
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it seemed apropos
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I just love a poet being a poet . . .
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ha ha – what else could I be and stay true?
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The ice cold wind of those beautiful words will haunt me all winter, when i walk down the street, hearing the snow crunching under my feet.
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always loved that sound, but no more crunching for me
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That’s it! That’s exactly how it feels, trying to breathe, walking down the streets in the ice-cold mornings on the way to work in Minnesota.
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I was once in Duluth when it was many degrees below zero
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“The air crinkles like cellophane” is a fabulous simile. Your poetry reminds me of the work of Theodore A. Borrillo, a retired Denver lawyer and poet I interviewed for “The Denver Catholic Register” years ago. He has two collections that are out of print but available used. Here are a few of his poems: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=41437002@N08&q=borrillo
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thank you for the introduction to Borrillo – I enjoyed this selection
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Some parts of the country here has been 50.0c hot enough to cook an egg on a shovel. Here in the barossa we are in the middle of a cool change. Send us some cool love your work.
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I’m fanning southward as fast as I can
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Wow. You truly do brilliant imagery–my fave is: “tears turn to gemstones set still on the cheek”. Marvelous, Paul.
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so grateful, as always
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Chilling use of consonants, those hard t’s, c’s, and z’s, in an ironic
staccato flow, really enjoyed this.
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it’s a staccato kind of weather
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I, too, love the cellophane simile, the whole poem AND the winter!
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here here to winter!
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I live in the second coldest capital city in the world, so I have a deep respect and appreciation for winter – but I do not like it I love the snow however, and the dangerous quality of the beauty of ice storms! So, I feel your poem. Thanks for liking mine!
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thank you so much for reading and commenting, Sherry
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Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.
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Feel I need my overcoat and a glass of something having read this. Brilliant as ever.
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the season once again grows closer
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Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
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Very wintery!!
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I originally wrote it last winter
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Great write! Sounds chillingly cold. Brrr!
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yes – but it’s such a good cold
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❤ 🙂
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Beautifully descriptive. A great Poem from a great poet.
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thank you kindly for your generous compliment
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You Sir, are welcome. Mr. Paul Lenzi, I would like to offer you a copy of my latest work, if you are ok with it, to thank you for all the support given to my blog since it’s ‘birth’. How can I send it to you? If no inconvenience is present.
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I would be pleased and honored to receive it – for my address, contact me by email at pflenzi@aol.com
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Sent. I hope you enjoy it.
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This brings thoughts of my parents and their home in the country during the 1980s. I always enjoyed the “after” of a winter snowfall and walking the property with my father, my face the only thing exposed. There were times when we made the drive there through a winter storm, but that “after” always was a reward. Of course, warming up afterwards with a coffee or hot chocolate by the wood stove was a reward in itself. Thank you.
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what wonderful memories – I have them, too
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