temporary things

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Susan L Daniels

a snow angel
is not snow
but its absence

a depression
shadowed
and haloless

never reaching heaven
except through water cycling
after a thaw

but her shape holds winter

**inspired by Prairie Home Companion yesterday.

About Susan L Daniels

I am a firm believer that politics are personal, that faith is expressed through action, and that life is something that must be loved and lived authentically--or why bother with any of it?

View all posts by Susan L Daniels →

This entry was posted in New Free Verse and tagged poetry, random thoughts, snow angel. Bookmark the permalink.

26 Responses to temporary things

deanabo says:

January 27, 2013 at 6:03 pm

Beautiful!
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 27, 2013 at 6:04 pm
  
  Thank you!
Pingback: ephemeral thing | merlinspielen
merlinspielen says:

January 27, 2013 at 6:33 pm

Beautiful poetry! You have inspired me 🙂
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 12:14 pm
  
  Thanks, Stephen.
Dewey Dirks says:

January 27, 2013 at 6:46 pm

Excellent ink Susan as always 🙂
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 1:16 pm
  
  Thanks, Dewey!
Alice Keys says:

January 27, 2013 at 7:53 pm

This one stole my breath away. Defining what is by what’s not there. The empty holding fullness. Very nice.
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 12:13 pm
  
  Thanks, Alice.
StacyMichelle says:

January 27, 2013 at 8:13 pm

love that 1st stanza .. well done, Susan
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 12:13 pm
  
  Thanks, Stacy.
Trent Lewin says:

January 27, 2013 at 10:21 pm

I like it Susan. Maybe not so much the last line, I was hoping to see how this angel would really ascend. Perhaps snow angels are the ultimate in vacuous hopes.
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 12:13 pm
  
  Oh, I love what you had to say about them here 😉
  
  I was struck by the vacancy of any hope a snow angel might have, after I listened to PHC last night.
  - Trent Lewin says:
    
    January 31, 2013 at 7:02 am
    
    What’s PHC?
    - Susan L Daniels says:
      
      January 31, 2013 at 11:18 am
      
      Prairie Home Companion–that show on public radio.
sonofwalt says:

January 28, 2013 at 1:55 am

You MUST have been listening to A Prairie Home Companion tonight like I was when I was washing the dishes! If not, I’m astounded at the coincidence. There was a story about a snow angel and a snowman, and this sounds inspired by it. 🙂
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 12:11 pm
  
  It was, and I was still to sick to give credit where it’s due. Just jotted this down a few hours later. Let me note that up there. Wasn’t that a great story?
  - sonofwalt says:
    
    January 28, 2013 at 4:37 pm
    
    Yes. It was! I hope you’re feeling better soon. It makes me smile ear to ear to know we may be listening to that show at the same time each weekend. 🙂
    - Susan L Daniels says:
      
      January 28, 2013 at 6:04 pm
      
      🙂
BroadBlogs says:

January 28, 2013 at 12:15 pm

Wow! Interesting. Now I’m wondering what that could all be a metaphor for.
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 12:17 pm
  
  Hmmm. I was thinking hope. Hope of being more than snow/flesh, both so ephemeral.
readinpleasure says:

January 28, 2013 at 1:01 pm

Beautiful words, Susan 🙂
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 1:12 pm
  
  Thanks, Celestine!
I HAVE A VOICE says:

January 28, 2013 at 10:27 pm

a vividly captured visual!
nelle says:

February 3, 2013 at 4:10 pm

Like this one… a mould in the snow.
- Susan L Daniels says:
  
  February 3, 2013 at 5:01 pm
  
  Thanks, Nelle. The dialogue between the snowman and the snow angel was something incredible to hear. If you can listen to back shows of the Prairie Home Companion somehow, I really recommend this one.