under the dank pond,
below its winter wasteland,
slumber turtles
Copyright 2021 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: At the toes of trees, sunk into cold mud, turtles hibernate away the winter, breathing through their bums. Really. Their bums. Now does your life sound as bad in comparison? 🙂
No matter how bare and empty the landscape, life is there, impatient for its moment in the sun. I find magic in that.
And in honor of “wasteland,” an image that came to me when I was standing on a path, enjoying the weak winter sunshine, looking at the vast, icy pond, an ode to a month fast approaching:
April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
–The first four lines of T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land
14 thoughts on “Winter Wasteland”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Delightful poetry and tale shared. Hope you are safe and keeping well in the tough times.
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Thanks! You, too.
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Ooo I like thinking about those slumbering turtles down there… can’t wait for them to emerge–and Spring too. Thanks Brenda for this coaxing call to waken Spring!
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Thanks for stopping by Michelle! Always happy to get your cards, comments and see your posts.
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I’m hopeful but March isn’t over and I’m expecting one more big snow storm. We’ve had the most amazing weather for March and I can’t help but think that Mother Nature has one more big surprise up her sleeve.
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I expect you’re right. There’s usually a little snow on the daffodils.
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Such a timely, forward-looking post
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Thank you! This time of year, I’m impatient for spring.
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I wish I could breathe through my bum. Well, I guess I can, but only out.
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LOL
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wonderful, they are patiently waiting. I wrote about the exact 12 hours of daylight that happened recently, and it reaffirms the return of spring
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The solstice is a magical time. I’m so glad the days are getting longer. I saw some snowdrops yesterday on my walk. I have to upload my pictures. 🙂
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makes me so happy and hopeful
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Me, too. So grateful to walk on a sunny day when the temp is over 40.
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