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Dawn After the Ice Storm

I’ve been participating in Laura Shovan’s February Poetry Project on Facebook. The theme is “Bodies” and the prompts have been fabulous. One recent prompt from Rebecca Brock focused on the brain. Inspired by a recent ice storm, here was my response:

Dawn After the Ice Storm

Any second now
the sun will clear the horizon
low rays will spark
the ice-laden branches
into fiery life 
Light will ricochet
like fireworks
A complicated relay
of electrical 
and chemical impulses
will shoot between synapses
My mouth 
will drop open
to emit
a quiet
delighted
gasp

©Molly Hogan

This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Karen Edmisten at her blog. She suggests a dose of Billy Collins and provides one, too. Her post leaves me wondering…what am I as old as?

19 thoughts on “Dawn After the Ice Storm”

  1. Linda Mitchell says:
    February 26, 2021 at 8:50 pm

    Molly, this poem and the photos are lovely. How do you do it? Those low rays, the spark, the gasp. Beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. margaretsmn says:
    February 26, 2021 at 9:08 pm

    I love that you have posted this poem. So many of the poems in the project get buried and don’t get the attention they deserve. I gasp alongside you at your poem and photos.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. macrush53 says:
    February 26, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    This is beautiful. I had that gasp as I walked among the snow and ice two weeks ago. Gorgeous photography.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. cvarsalona says:
    February 26, 2021 at 11:45 pm

    Molly, the line-“Light will ricochet/like fireworks” sets up as a great prelude to your beautiful display of winter in Maine. I just love this post that keeps the beauty of winter alive.

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  5. Alan j Wright says:
    February 27, 2021 at 12:02 am

    The link you were alluding to was so delicately reached as your poem unfolded. Delicate words, so well presented. The photographs wrapped around your word gift like a ribbon. Thanks Molly.

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  6. maryleehahn says:
    February 27, 2021 at 11:23 am

    Definitely gasp-worthy!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Sally Murphy says:
    February 28, 2021 at 3:29 am

    My synapses fired as I read this, Molly. It’s delightful!

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Kay Mcgriff says:
    February 28, 2021 at 9:51 am

    This poem is as beautiful as the photos. I, too, gasped in delight with you at the end.

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. Dan Rothermel says:
    February 28, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    I agree with cvarsalona. These lines light up the poem for me.
    “Light will ricochet
    like fireworks
    A complicated relay
    of electrical
    and chemical impulses
    will shoot between synapses. One helluva a coffee table is brewing with your pictures and your text.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Karen Edmisten says:
    February 28, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    That gasp! I was sort of holding my breath and then gasped along with you. Beautiful, Molly!

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. lindabaie says:
    March 1, 2021 at 8:17 am

    I’ve missed some of your poems, too, Molly, & love this one, connected to my own love last week when after our storm, the sun began lighting up our world “into fiery life”! Happy March!

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