North of Taiga

Cherry

By marandina

Fri, 04 Aug 2023
  • 778 reads
9 comments
 

North of Taiga

At sunrise over bleak horizons,

breath frozen in an arctic tundra,

winds skitter in scattered trees,

seasons dream of warmer days.

 

Snowy owls blink in sunlight,

perched in avian watchtowers,

eyes flicker in search of prey,

a fox spied, stalking in snow.

 

Hares skip close by, oblivious,

reindeer roaming barren plains,

foraging for grass and moss,

crowns of antlers, noble heads.

 

Sweeping towards coastal flats,

Polar bears range, hunt for food,

ice floe drifts across freezing sea,

waves lap on far-flung shores.

 

In a stark, unforgiving world,

nomads forge their harsh lives,

Nganasan, Nenets and Sami,

custodians of northern Uplands.

 

As a winter day slips into night,

dark skies light up like fireworks,

colours shimmer, ethereal hues,

Borealis ebbs in a mystic ether.

 

In these lands time stands still,

where moments echo in silence,

living ghosts of stolid perma-frost,

an ice-white haunting wilderness.

 

Image free to use at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Arctic_tundra#/media/File:Auyuitt...

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I feel cold! but so good to have such a glimpse, far ranging, and come back to a warm room. Would love to know how those people tackle the conditions. Thank you. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rhiannon. I expect it's a case of adapting and being used to local conditions. Their reward is living in a stunningly beautiful environment. 

 

Submitted by celticman on

true norh n my ways  And that's praise. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, CM. [Hope the match pans out for you today. Live on Sky Sports now - Celtic v Ross County] 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for the cherries, ABC Eds. Much appreciated. Paul 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

There's someything wildly exciting about your poem Paul. Such beauty in this untamed landscape. It was like being taken on an expedition without moving from my chair.

Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jenny. "Wildly exciting" Yes, I like that. It's how I imagine the tundra - a place of magic and wilderness.

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Paul

what a lovely picture poem. I am reading a book about Alaska, so it all fits in very beautifully with my story  I have never wanted to visit the very cold lands, but recognise their beauty.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jean. Glad you liked it. Paul :)