A Frosty Night

On this frosty night,
stars blow themselves
to smither-
eens
and
fall
like feathers.
Silvery hisses and splutters
of white noise
in my ears
rush like the ocean
on shingle,
a symphony of moonlight,
on this frosty night.

Kim M. Russell, 19th January 2019

Related image
Image found on Pinterest

My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Weekend Mini-Challenge: Mustn’t Be Fancy, also linked to Poets United Poetry Pantry

This weekend, Magaly uses a quote from Mary Oliver, who sadly died this week, to inspire us to write a new poem that “mustn’t be fancy”. We are encouraged to craft poetry that wastes no words.

61 thoughts on “A Frosty Night”

  1. I’m not quite sure what I love most about this poem: your description of snow… or, perhaps, that final image your words send right into my brain– what a feast, “a symphony of moonlight” makes. I also appreciate the reality you’ve woven into the poetry (are your ears getting better?), and how you’ve turned something rather uncomfortable into warming poetry.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Magaly. I wasn’t sure whether it was my ears or actual sounds from the frosty sky! I can hear better now that my ears have been syringed at the doctor’s surgery but I still have to go to a hearing test on Tuesday. I don’t think they can do anything about the tinnitus, though.
      How are you keeping at the moment? I hope your piano man is spoiling you plenty. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Probably a combination of both. I hope your hearing test brings the best results.

        I’m doing all right, at the moment. Slowly moving through the OMG-are-those-gigantically-swollen-feet-mine? stage of the chemo process (it doesn’t last too long). And yes, getting ridiculously spoiled. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  5. My goodness this is good! ❤️ I love “Silvery hisses and splutters of white noise in my ears rush like the ocean on shingle, a symphony of moonlight.” Wishing you the best for your test on Tuesday 🙂 Love and hugs! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I’m looking forward to such a night here in PA. Thank you for the lovely imagery ahead of the storm. I love the sound of snow on a quiet street.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Ah, you must live on MY street. Smiles. Love a symphony of moonlight, and I picture the stars falling like feathers to be the snow we had for 24 hours yesterday. Beautiful poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. this is a wonderful “sounds” poem — engaging the senses the way you have certainly brings it all very vividly to the front – and lands us squarely there! it’s wonderful – and descriptive and I just want to wrap myself in the deep indigo silver studded night!

    glad to hear you’re feeling better and can hear more – hopefully you’re tests will yield good results and you continue to be on the mend ….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. I had to read this two or three times to delve into your poem’s meaning and there was this underlying feeling of sadness and loss that emerged as the author (you) tries to make sense of life! Mind you I am as crazy as a coot!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Rob. I haven’t got around to reading everyone’s poems yet – I’ve just had a strange weekend and a hellish afternoon today. Back to normal tomorrow, I hope.

      Like

      Reply

  23. Love it! A beautifully rendered piece wonderfully bookended with the perfect line of repetition (symploce: repetition, as I recall, from the essay on repetition that Sherry and I put together – the various types of poetic repetition having the most exotic names ~ who knew ~ ha)

    stars blow themselves
    to smither-
    eens
    and
    fall
    like feathers.

    Is stunningly visual – in my mind’s eye.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. The moon has become very popularized by the weatherman as of late . Ours needs to read your nice little ditty. We had frost this morning on our rear car window., at 41 degrees F.
    Last night we visited old London, by taking our granddaughter to see the New “Mary Popins” movie. It was refreshing.
    ..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.