With January’s ice-scrim mist,
this riverside neighborhood
turns back to photo proof
black, white and gauzy gray.
Holiday colors have faded
Holiday colors have faded
like mid-September memories.
Tinder-dry evergreens,
erstwhile harlequin-lit window beacons
for passing ice-breakers,
now lie prostrate on streetside,
snow-dusted Christmas gravestones,
now lie prostrate on streetside,
snow-dusted Christmas gravestones,
waiting for the herald crash
of the trash collecting Rapture.
And the perennial trees
standing sentinel nearby
standing sentinel nearby
at snow-footed attention,
look like lean black guardsmen,
their uniforms on backorder
until a too faraway Spring.
This poem came from my walks and runs along the Hudson shore over the past 20 years. During the holidays, you could see the gumdrop-lit Christmas trees in windows over in Rensselaer. By early January, they were gone, the snow had come and the ice had choked the river. “Rivertown Rapture” is what I recall and imagine of those days.
A Thing for Words 
come on spring…life is a black and white pic this time of year man…and love the image of the guardsmen…great capture joe…
Love the way you captured this, can picture it so vividly. Like Brian, I too like the image of sentinel guardsmen, uniforms on backorder until too faraway Spring. It certainly feels that way in the throes of icy January! Enjoyed this a lot, reminds me of my area of New England.
"waiting for the herald crashof the trash collecting Rapture"Love it!
Wonderful expressions!
Beautiful images, Joe… I, too, long for spring.http://lkkolp.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/the-thief/
this is filled with beautiful imagery, it made me feel the chill of winter. lovely.
very nice sir… It is a bit dull without the xmax-y lights and such.. just plain ole freezing sights
Too much good in this to highlight, but special kudos to the trees.
wow. tis bleak indeed. an ironic peace, tongue & cheek, and imagistic piece gainsay on 'rapture'…cause it's end-of-life stuff.funny how quick the turn….holiday spirit to grim.then hope of spring. hope the black guardsmen get their uniforms…they have a chance…they passed Xmas safely.
Wonderful images…they really capture the feel of this time of year in a cold land. I remember it well.
wonderful imagery in this seasonal piece. some really dazzling word choices throughout. love these lines–With January's ice-scrim mist, this riverside neighborhood turns back to photo proof black, white and gauzy gray.nicely penned Joseph — C.
Lovely sentiment in this one Joe, I want to salute those grey stone. Hope all is well in cold NY
if we only had some snow…but it's just grey and wet over here..and yes..i yearn for spring…sigh..
Love the trees standing to attention with their feet encased in snow Joe – standing sentinel waiting for spring to blast colour into their being 🙂
nice capture of winter walks…
Nice write, Joe. Love these lines…this riverside neighborhoodturns back to photo proofblack, white and gauzy gray.Holiday colors have fadedlike mid-September memories. Great capture!
Maybe I'll run / walk your route with you one day, Joe. Would love to see the images in person!A wonderful poem — swept away on your words.
The holidays have gone and now winter has settled in – you paint a beautiful and poignant picture with strong images – like Jannie I was completely swept away by this poem
I love the line photo proof:) great poem!!!~L
Oh, roll on Spring..warm to warm….love the images in this though…the trees standing to snow-footed attention…wonderful imagery & you capture the post Christmas mood so well…hugs to you, dear friend xo
I take drives along the river and out to the lake to gather inspiration. So many wonderful things come to mind when in nature, doesn't it. I love your use of imagery, as always. Beautiful!http://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/look-me-in-the-eye-when-you-say-goodbye/
Love love love ice-scrim mist. What a way to start! And then you followed with imagery that took me deeper into rivertown, tinder-dry, harlequin-lit, sentinal. Gorgeous work. My favorite word… erstwhile. Love the sound of erstwhile. Fabulous, Joe.
I was trying to think of a word that fully expressed how much I loved this poem; I think the word is perfection, because you've created a perfect literary snapshot of exactly what a town is like just after Christmas. The trees 'uniforms on back-order' is superb!
Loved the imagery and colours in this. It reminded me of scenes from BIG – seeing the trees across the Hudson. Must be very very FINE to spend the seasons there! Lovely.
fab write I am almost there walking beside you …thank you for sharing and may 2012 be filled with Colour x x x
standing sentinel nearbyat snow-footed attention,and the Rapture the trash collector brings! Really enjoyed this poem of a town that needs to sigh and rest after all the festivities. I feel kind of like that. 🙂
Densely packed with images and associations..the dulled tones of early January. Somehow these lines make a strong impression:waiting for the herald crash of the trash collecting Rapture.Juxtapositions jingling emotively in my head. Very much like the whole thing Joe… and must say I am enjoying the Dubai sun (Ok hit me..)
ah, such bleak & vivid imagery… the work of a master wordsmith, as ever.
Wonderful, Joe: ) You capture the comfort of living in one place for many years. It's expected habits and regularities, such as my favourite line: 'waiting for the herald crash of the trash collecting Rapture'…I just love that! Thank you for taking me on the river journey…-Eva
Man spring is definitely too far away! I love the way you captured the "after Christmas" feeling…my favorite line : "snow-dusted Christmas gravestones"
there is almost a visual hangover after the holidays, you capture that so well in this. lovely write ~ Rose
Nice job, very poetic indeed.