"Hoarfrost Summations"
“Hoarfrost Summations” is the third selection of my original poetry to appear here on The Renaissance Garden Guy. I’ll probably feature it in an upcoming book, but you can check it out right here in the meantime.
Hoarfrost Summations
By John G. Stamos
What does this dampening blanket conceal? What lies facedown beneath the cowl?
The contour is there, the spinning land, the chain, the inevitable tread.
Crystal glints growl and swirl, yet heed the form, and gather and mark the mortal burst,
The path is winding, but the way is known, the bramble preens, its pretense shed.
In this cage dwells will and resentment, rage and glory, a finite power,
Bent to the wheel, shackled to regret, heedless of time, still, dreading the hour.
When did the wind shift? When did the whorls first snarl? When did the mantle crumble?
The grip on the land, the grip on my heart… realized in ice, written in black, sinking in dark.
The blacksmith smites the pig iron skies, with fury, with wanting, with need, demanding
Attendance and succor from the youngest Charite, but there is no shining, no grace, no lark.
And in the cage, a raging flame now dwindled to ember, persists, and winks, and glowers,
Small in the face of the blast, the shameless bramble, the bloom of death’s head flowers.
Under the prismatic sum, the layer, the crust; under it, lies the maw of the world, turned upward
Now. Upward. And eager. Slavering. A rictus. Hunger, craving, knowing, yearning.
Above, carapace droplets write a frozen stanza on parchment, tell a glittering tale to the trees:
The path always leads one way. The chain is there, and the cloistering bramble permits no spurning.
The rhythm of the seasons is drummed in the cage, while the wavering spark is still there,
And the years are etched in snow and in flesh, and within the blackened thorns’ lair.
What does this silencing blanket conceal? What has always waited beneath the shroud?
The ageless path, the immutable way, and the worn tread; the chain and the end of time.
Frigid, brilliantine wrap. Crystalline glints. The torn mortal burst hangs gingerly in gusts
Above the path as a punctuated veil, and marks the inevitable cadence of an ancient rhyme.
The cage is now silent; no waxing nor raging, no thrumming nor vital rattle,
The once sturdy frame girds nothing, the hoarfrost clings, and the bramble tends the ruined chattel.
Thank you, dear readers and subscribers, for giving “Hoarfrost Summations” a once-over. I hope you’ve enjoyed it. As always, I dearly appreciate your kind interest and your readership.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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Wow John,so beautiful,so descriptive and made me re read 3 times incase I missed a it’s full glory,wonderful John truly wonderful
Wow, Tina – thank you so much! I am absolutely thrilled that you’ve enjoyed this one. It is actually one of my favorites from among my own stuff. Thank you again, Tina, for your kind compliments, and thank you for giving it a read.
Loved it! Awesome!
Thank you so much for reading it, Sharon. I truly appreciate it.
Beautiful poetry John! Wonderful words so much depth!
Thank you !
I thank you – for your incredibly kind words, and for giving the poem a read. I am truly grateful. Thanks once again!
Very nice.
This is one of those poems that – like a well baked sourdough bread – gets better and better the more one dives into its succulent depths and reads – re-reads – and re-re-reads.
How incredibly kind of you, Ann – thank you so much! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it, and of course, I’m very grateful to you for taking the time to read it. I truly appreciate your very lovely comments and thoughts, and your very kind interest. Thanks once again!
How beau-ti-ful! This is precious, John, melancholic, with a calm air of frosty resignation… really, really beautiful. Your heart is a poet. I love this poem
Thank you so much, Maria – such lovely praise! Your beautiful words and kind thoughts are truly and dearly appreciated. I’m so glad that this piece resonated with your own poetic heart and soul. Thank you once again.
All at once a gripping and moving poem. Well done John!
Thank you so much, Jill! I am absolutely thrilled that you’ve enjoyed this particular work – I’ll admit it’s one of my favorites from among my own works. Thank you for giving it a read, and thanks again for your lovely comments. And of course, I’m wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year!
What an exceptional talent you are !!!
It is an absolute delight….,, “Beautiful”
Soon you have to put out a book with all poetry and stories…… 🙏💖🌸
Thank you so much, Roxxy! Such an incredibly lovely compliment and such kind thoughts – I truly appreciate this, Roxxy. You’ll be the first to know when my books are out!
John, your poetry is remarkable. I thank you for sharing it with us. The beauty of your words is reflected in that lovely picture.
Thank you so much, Kevin. I am so happy that you’ve enjoyed the work, and I’m honored and touched by your kind words and thoughts. I truly appreciate it. Thank you once again.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen snow. I have fond memories of the blanket of white that would cancel a school day but allow for a play day. As I read this poem, I remember the mysteries of those crystal drops, scooping the white snow or breaking the crystal ice with gloved hand. However, solving that puzzle was a task for another day because snow day was fun day.
I understand completely. Snow days were the best things ever! Thank you so much for reading the poem. I really appreciate that.
What lies beneath that mysterious cowl indeed? That shameless bramble may know the secret but will never tell? Such an intense poem, John! It muses about the beautiful picture above perfectly!
Wow, Rita – thank you so much! I’m honored by your lovely praise. And thank you for giving it a read. I really appreciate it!
A profound poem!
Thank you so much – I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it!
So elegantly descriptive!
Thank you so much for giving it a read, Iva Kate – I’m very happy that you liked it – again, many thanks!
Beautiful poem, beautiful photo!
Thank you, Katha. I’m very glad you enjoyed it.
You are multi talented and an example of a renaissance man. Hopefully you will publish a book.
I thank you very kindly for your incredibly lovely compliment and your incredibly kind thoughts. I appreciate this more than words can express. Thank you so much, Rick.