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When
winter officially
comes to the South
many of us
continue to enjoy
a warm Indian
Summer for several
weeks before the
temperatures drop
and linger in
digits that will
make us shiver.
Thanksgiving and
Christmas can come
and go without
significant freeze
but those of us
who were born here
know we haven't
really escaped old
man Winter.
January
and February are
historically our
coldest months and
during that time
there is a
possibility that a
blanket of icy
white snow will
settle down around
us. Usually
our warm earth
will retain enough
heat to melt the
first bit of sleet
or snow but as the
temperatures begin
to drop; this
moisture becomes a
layer of
treacherous ice.
As the snow
continues to fall,
it sticks to the
ice making travel
extremely
dangerous.
When
this happens
almost all things
stop for awhile.
If it is not
deemed an
emergency, the
media advises
everyone to stay
inside, off the
roads and enjoy
the beauty. Since
it is such a rare
occurrence, the
smaller
communities are
not prepared with
snowplows and
other equipment
that is taken for
granted in the
colder northern
climates.
New
comers and
visitors may even
scoff at us as we allow nature to
take it's course
but we consider
this short-lived
situation unworthy of
tax expenditure. It's
an inconvenience
to some, a joy to
others.
The
evening of January
25, 2000 was such
an occasion for us
in North and South
Carolina. Snow
drifted in
overnight without
ceasing, covering
a treacherous
layer of ice.
The dawn
of morning sun
revealed a
landscape
glistening like diamond dust. Pine
trees and
Magnolias were
bent under the
weight of the ice
and new fallen
snow. Below
is my description
of what I
saw.
Magnolias Draped in
Snow
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A
sudden
cold
blanket
of
icy
white
covers
the
Carolinas
Disguising
the
magnificence
of
magnolias
in
deceptive
tranquility
Abstract
music
of
the
night
moans
forlornly,
howled
by
the
wind
High
notes
are
played
wildly
by
sleet
raining
through
trees
![](lightonlight2.gif")
A
staccato
of
cracking
limbs
shatters
the
quiet
Leaving
powerless
victims
cold,
fearful
of
impending
despair
Some
unprepared
for
the
wrath
from
Mother
Nature
Lessons
learned
from
previous
tutelage
are
woefully
remembered
While
prayers
waft
heavenward
in
hope
of
thawing
reprieve
Tomorrows
dawn
in
Dixie
will
awaken
a
mystified
child
Who
will
stare
wide-eyed
through
frosted
glass
in
bewilderment
and
glee
At
a
landscape
smothered
in
snowdrifts
of
shimmering
white
Snow
laden
limbs
of
Magnolias
will
hang,
some
splintered,
appearing
lifeless
Draped
beneath
an
apparent
death
grip
of
frozen
veneer
Be
not
dismayed
for
they
merely
await
The
first
rays
of
that
assured
warm
Southern
sunshine
When
thawing
evergreen
veins
of
new
growth
will
Burst
into
fragrant
white
blossoms
heralding
Spring
By
Rosalene
H.
Abrams
:)
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I
must extend a
special
"thank
you" to Bill
Leslie of WRAL
television in
Raleigh, North
Carolina for
reading this poem
during his
coverage of the
winter storm on
January 26, 2000.
Thank
you also to Ruth
Ann Lee for
graciously
granting
permission to use
the photograph of
the ice laden
magnolia.
Enjoy more of her
photography by
clicking HERE.
 
  
 
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