

Moans and groans that chill the bones,
Through the window stream,
Scents of icy northern zones,
Invade the sleeper’s dreams.
Cold unwelcome guest descends
On the huddled shape,
Shivering, the ice-ghost bends,
Whispers in her nape.
Who has paid the icy fare,
On these crystal flows,
Hitching rides on Arctic air,
Following their nose?
Walruses and polar bear,
Wolves and caribou,
Send their scent along the air,
Via Manitou.
Think of us, they sadly moan,
Swirling round the room,
Dream of us, for now you’ve known
Our cold nights and our gloom.
Writing, travel, photography, nature, more writing....
January 8, 2024 at 6:23 am
I was introduced to Gitchie Manitou in Longfellow’s “Hiawatha.” It was fun to find the reference here, too.
Now, I’m going to go put on an extra layer; for some reason I’m feeling cold.
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January 8, 2024 at 8:03 am
It was a bit chilling – sorry!
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January 8, 2024 at 6:50 am
GREAT combination of poem and pictures, dear Anneli.
We are hoping to get cold weather and snow, that walruses and polar bear, wolves and caribou
send their scent along the air.
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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January 8, 2024 at 8:05 am
The cold air moved in so suddenly last night, that I lay in bed thinking of these words and so had to get up quickly to write them down. We’re in for some cold weather for a while now. Thanks for reading, KB.
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January 8, 2024 at 7:17 am
Between the poem and pics, I felt the chill! Thanks, Anneli.
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January 8, 2024 at 8:05 am
Yes, I’m sorry about that.
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January 8, 2024 at 8:07 am
Got another hot cup if tea and enjoying the beauty.
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January 8, 2024 at 9:31 am
It’s going to take a few cups of hot tea to counteract the system that’s moving in from the north. But thanks for your encouragement, Grant.
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January 8, 2024 at 8:45 am
Wow, such a big cold front, Anneli, stay warm! Our daily high was 45 yesterday and 47 degrees today, much colder than I should be in my view.
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January 8, 2024 at 9:31 am
Snow is coming within the next few days.
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January 8, 2024 at 9:38 am
Oh boy! ☺️
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January 8, 2024 at 9:43 am
I’ll be making sure the birdfeeders are all filled and the squirrels get extra food. Hmm … I wonder if I should make myself a sandwich….😊
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January 8, 2024 at 9:53 am
Make that sandwich! 😋
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January 8, 2024 at 10:07 am
OK.
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January 8, 2024 at 9:39 am
Looking at the pictures and reading the poem, I was shivering. We are having 12 degrees minus tonight and then every night will get colder for another few days. So I will have to shiver for many days and nights. Keep warm, I try to do the same.
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January 8, 2024 at 9:41 am
LOL I was shivering as I wrote it too! I’m sorry you’re having cold weather too, but I think right now all the northern hemisphere is getting blasted with cold air.
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January 8, 2024 at 9:52 am
I know it is cold in Alberta, but as we say…”its a dry cold”. I have never felt as cold anywhere as I have near water (lake or ocean. Those scenes do look chilly Anneli. Happy Monday. Allan
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January 8, 2024 at 10:07 am
I agree. I used to live in Dawson Creek, so I know what you mean about the dry cold. That was bad enough, but wet cold seems to go right through clothes and a layer of skin as well.
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January 8, 2024 at 10:04 am
That’s a very atmospheric poem, Anneli! 🥶🥰
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January 8, 2024 at 10:08 am
Yes, brrrrrrrr. Very cold wind and so wet. I’m sure it will turn to snow soon.
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January 8, 2024 at 10:19 am
That’s a great poem, Anneli! It describes those photos extremely well. We are expecting some cold northern air as well and there’s a snowfall warning for central and northern Okanagan, but so far, not for us. It’s supposed to get colder towards the end of the week though before warming up again toward Sunday. Stay cozy – maybe hot chocolate and a good book?
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January 8, 2024 at 11:38 am
That last part sounds really good! I’m bracing myself for that cold weather.
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January 8, 2024 at 11:24 am
Evocative images of the cold in your words. I enjoyed the photos too.
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January 8, 2024 at 11:40 am
I was lying in bed listening to that cold wind whoo-hooing in through the sliding door, and the words started whirling around my head. It was 4 a.m. but I had to get up lest I forgot the words. Thanks for reading, Belinda.
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January 8, 2024 at 2:23 pm
A good thing you did too.
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January 8, 2024 at 2:52 pm
For sure I would have forgotten it.
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January 8, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Anneli, your photos made me want to put on a sweater. They are gorgeous. Your poem made me wonder how the animals can withstand the cold. Nature is certainly something to marvel at.
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January 8, 2024 at 2:45 pm
I wonder the same thing myself when I go out to fill the birdfeeders. I think, “How can they stay alive?”
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January 8, 2024 at 4:14 pm
I see the ducks nearby dipping into the freezing water in amazement. The thing is, they don’t look cold, although they don’t stay down too long. 🙂
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January 8, 2024 at 7:31 pm
Here, tonight is a bitter cold and ugly night; a hazard for every living thing out there. I just hope they’ve found shelter and tomorrow I’ll bring them more food.
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January 9, 2024 at 6:12 pm
They are so lucky to have you, Anneli!
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January 9, 2024 at 10:17 pm
Works both ways, Carol.
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January 12, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Life is like that, isn’t it?
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January 8, 2024 at 6:56 pm
Beautiful!
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January 8, 2024 at 7:28 pm
Thank you, DK.
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January 8, 2024 at 10:42 pm
And here i am, still coughing and sniffing, but mostly feeling very sorry for myself because, as per the meteo, it’s-4°C and FEELING like -8, winds and brrrr . French spoken Swiss HH says ‘gla gla gla’ which stands for glacial (icy)…. beautiful pairing Anneli. Happy New Year, and some warmth in your heart and bones, at least!
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January 9, 2024 at 6:56 am
Thanks so much, Kiki.
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January 9, 2024 at 4:01 am
Brrr… well said, Anneli!
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January 10, 2024 at 4:54 am
Nice 👌
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January 10, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Thank you.
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January 10, 2024 at 5:33 am
Nice
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January 10, 2024 at 3:38 pm
Those photos look so cold and gloomy. And the poem is wonderfully haunting, Anneli. The warmth in your home must be extra cozy this time of year.
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January 10, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Thanks, Diana. We work a little harder at it these days, keeping the fire going, but it’s pretty cozy in the house. But step outside and it’s a whole other world; one in which I feel so sorry for the birds and animals I can hardly bear it, thinking of those little hummingbirds. But at least we got a heated feeder for them this year, thanks to a friend for this gift.
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January 11, 2024 at 6:58 am
Aww. I knew you’d be helping out the little creatures. Hopefully the deep cold is short lived.
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January 11, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Brrrrrr. Shivering in the doom and gloom. FANTASTIC poem!! We got 11 inches of snow early in the week. Brrrrr 🌨️
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January 11, 2024 at 9:51 pm
Oh, shudders! Our snow is still on the way in a day or two, but right now it is bitter, bitter cold with an ugly windchill. My poor little hummingbirds.
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January 12, 2024 at 5:19 am
I can’t imagine hummers living through that bitter chill. Ours fly away in September at the slightest hint of colder weather.
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January 12, 2024 at 9:52 am
We never used to have them stay the winter, but a few mild winters lulled them into carelessness. Now they suffer. I do what I can to get them through it.
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January 13, 2024 at 4:57 am
I’m afraid that’s gonna be the same with us. We were lulled by a couple of easy winters, but we’ll see what comes next… 😖
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