In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen snow on snow, snow on snow. In the middle of winter one comes to expect snow and in certain places plenty of it. Snow is beautiful. It carpets any scene, any view and transforms it into an eye-catching and attractive picture. Few people can resist looking out over a snow-covered landscape and be spellbound by it. The thick, white blanket that conceals all the blemishes and carbuncles that are ordinarily visible. A scrap yard which is full of rusting motor vehicles, broken washing machines and discarded fridges becomes an undulating cloak of unbroken snow. Those rough edges become smoothed. The stained soil is hidden beneath the sparkling coat. The world soon becomes a more attractive and an almost magical place.
As the first snowflakes begin to fall, that excitement still rises within most people. They are transported to their childhood and remember the anticipation of the snowfall. It might mean a snow day and freedom from school. It certainly meant snowball fights, sledging and building snow men. An infrequent opportunity to engage in something different in this marvellous winter wonderland. It also evokes such keen images of Christmas, that most celebrated of seasons and therefore the link between snow and wonderful sensations and events is incredibly strong.Even the solitary snow flake is a thing of wonder. Perfect crystalline formations, each different, delicate and seductive. They mesh together as the isolated snowflakes become a dusting and as more snow falls, the temperature lowered, the dusting becomes a layer and then a carpet which grows thicker and deeper. The world slows down to embrace this beauty. Everything looks clean, smoothed and beautiful. Noise becomes muffled and invariably silence reigns as if sound has agreed to be muted in silent reverence of the visual spectacular that is created by a snowfall.
When the snow first comes it is mesmerising, enchanting and makes everything seem wonderful. Of course being trapped beneath this frozen water is a cold and unpleasant experience. Over time it compacts and ices over, proving of little use for snowballs. Gone is the gentle fluffiness to be replaced by a hard-edged and potentially injurious surface that cuts if gathered into an ice ball. The thick covering of snow brings chaos to transport, halting trains and blocking roads. Walking becomes hazardous and the very young and very old find themselves confined to their homes. The ice that gathers on power lines drags them down and cuts people off. This once beautiful weather phenomenon becomes costly and inconvenient. Plans are cancelled, events postponed and even the simplest of tasks become laborious. Even a thawing brings with it that damp, cold slush that chills and wets, increasing the risk of a traffic accident or slipping over. The once white paradise becomes browned slush and sharp ice, neither being appealing. It freezes as the temperature drops again but has none of the beauty that preceded it. As the days become weeks this seemingly unending cold front with its legacy of ice and snow grows all the more unwelcome, yet its grip shows no sign of loosening, generating more inconvenience and misery for those who are isolated by it or consigned to having to deal with it. That once white magical landscape has soon transformed into something frightful and difficult. How easily the world changes from such mesmerising beauty into cold, hurtful bleakness.
Strangely familiar don’t you think?
38 thoughts on “In the Bleak Midwinter”
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Yes, yes and more yes!
Love everything about it!
I’ve been compared to snowy winter many a time.
A poem my ex dedicated to me:
Winter Wind.
She’s the ever changing winter wind,
A gust of clean crisp air,
Roaring through the living room,
And tousling up your hair,
She whistles through the doorways,
As she sails right down the hall,
Dancing through the golden leaves,
That mark the end of Fall,
But like the frozen winter wind,
She bends to no ones will,
Some days she is a hurricane,
And other days she’s still,
There’s moments when her laughter,
Could give flight to paper planes,
But her silence can convince you,
Trees will never sway again,
She’ll push the clouds out of the sky,
And stir the wildest seas,
But no matter how you know her,
You cannot predict her breeze,
There’s days when you’ll feel foolish
For the scarf wrapped round your throat,
But with her there is no telling,
When you ought to wear a coat.
He said the winter landscape seems so beautiful and peaceful, it almost makes you forget that one wrong step can trigger an avalanche or send you flying into a chasm.
And I have a feeling that you could identify with the song that has been dedicated to me enough times that it has become my “theme song” 🙂
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J2MdJKYsapg
The first part of this blog describes in breathtaking detail, how I feel about show. The latter, describes the way Loser felt about snow.
I’ll take the first part…and I would make snow cream!
I’m a fast learner, don’t get to do my job by being slow.
Just need to learn from my mistakes
Twas ever thus Freedom.
You’re so lovely and thoughtful HG. But atlas humour is enough, being empath it’s in my nature to share so keep your arrows form others. Ha ha
Very good but you know it does you good to think of yourself from time to time. Take it from me, I know.
Oh you’re being so thoughtful HG thinking of my best for me. 😊What would I do without you ….
You’re not attempting love bomb HG are you?😱
Love bomb? What’s that?
My mistake HG must be true feelings 😍( fluttering my big eyelashes over my dark brown eyes).
Silly me 😊
I’m enjoying being away from the ice cold Narc.
It is a beautiful day in Texas.
I grabbed my iPod, sunglasses and running shoes and went for a nice brisk walk on my lunch hour.
Did you listen to Walking on Sunshine?
And nobody does it better, cause baby you’re the best.
Eh H G 😜😜😜😜
You’re learning, I like you.
😳😳😳
Oh oh I’m in trouble
See what my ex narc is missing
No you are not in trouble, just do what is needed and everything will be fine.
You mean everything you need and want Mr. Tudor I take it 😊😊😊
You may think that Freedom but I couldn’t possibly…..yes you are right.
OMG !!! You’ve said I’m right is this possible !😆😆
Of course you can be right, if I allow it.
You make me laugh HG 😆😆
I have more strings to my bow than just humour you know. Would you like me to fire a few arrows in your direction? They are all coated with love.
my Dear HG
mi queridisimo HG
I have to say that today youre negativity meter scores high.
Here in the Swiss Alps the snow never compacts and ices over, it keeps its tenderness during the whole winter 😃, the view is stunning and you feel in heaven! Its divine! ❤️.
you just have to take the decision and go for it 😃😃
I guess all of us ladies in recovery are heading to such a place 🗻
Wishing you a happier and more positive end of the day. 😙
…and just a bit cheeky leading in with another song, eh?
Words are weapons.
Indeed they are.
Don’t any of you realize just by reading this and commenting your feeding him his precious fuel!! Even me writing this is fueling his needs!! He’s not trying to help any of you! Remember he only thinks of himself and his precious fuel!! This is just another way of getting it!! Smh.
Yes Foolme
We understand this, but we get insight into their thinking nothing is free in this life is it !
A most pragmatic response.
I’m very much a pragmatist.
We each create our own worlds, HG.
The death that winter brings always leads to the rebirth of spring in mine.
Beautifully written! But spring always returns.. And then summer, and then fall.. I’d say together they form a trinity of hope, love and faith, and outweigh the curse of snow 🙂 Well, in my world at least.
Good response survivednarc but spring has been cancelled. My world, my rules!
But you forget HG the world turns with or without your rules. We just need to escape winters grip when the snow thaws.
I predict a tightening of the grip of winter, a huge cold front.
Well HG we will just have to wait for a tantrum in summer when it’s nothing but hot air. 😜
Ha ha.
You would!
Extreamly famiar, brings to mind the song and video of baby it’s cold outside ( by ceris and good old Tom jones)
I’m at it again wondering if the beautiful snow has turned to slush and ice with his new wife 😔