Kim at Poets United asked us to write a poem about Ice. First thought that came to mind-was Alaska. I have never seen icicles, so long! Almost as long, as I am tall. (I'm not tall-I'm 5'1) Then I thought of the glaciers, I decided this would be perfect for an Ice poem.
Fact:
Glacial ice often appears blue when it has become very dense. Years of compression gradually make the ice denser over time, forcing out the tiny air pockets between crystals. When glacier ice becomes extremely dense, the ice absorbs all other colors in the spectrum and reflects primarily blue, which is what we see. When glacier ice is white, that usually means that there are many tiny air bubbles still in the ice.
I have been to Alaska. How cold was it? CCCCccccold! I have lived on an island, in the Aleutian chain and I lived in Anchorage, Alaska for three years. Yes, driving the Al-Can is for crazy people. My hubby n' I did it in winter, so you can count me into that club. When we stopped for the night, on our hotel there was ice, I swear five inches thick. We had two gas tanks and one gas line froze. I suggested the blow dryer and it worked. I won't let hubby forget it, lol. I have MacGyver skills, with glue guns and blow dryers. Alaska is the craziest place, I have ever lived. They have parades to celebrate Ice Worms, they have fireworks in February-it isn't dark enough in July. Remember, it is the land of the Midnight sun. I have photos of being outside at 10pm wearing sunglasses. Yeah, you have to be a special breed to live there! And yes, I will call you both, brave and crazy! Yet, there is a magic in surviving the winter and soaking up the sunlight. Yes, it is true they only have two seasons, winter n' spring. Okay maybe quirky fits better. I didn't see this, but they race outhouses at FurRondy... They say it is the final frontier-mmh, maybe that is why so many Trekkies live there! ;D
Locked mysteries
in crystals of ornate sky blue
n' bubbles of fragile white
capture the dreams of past wonders
cascaded light
outlines their
crystal cool bridges
illuminated by sun's dance
like stars hung low
wishing and yearning
to tell their tales
in whispers
of time lost
glistening stars like sugar
captured n' tossed
in a sea of deep memories
layers of voices trapped in
massive blue.
© Ellen Wilson
Fact:
Glacial ice often appears blue when it has become very dense. Years of compression gradually make the ice denser over time, forcing out the tiny air pockets between crystals. When glacier ice becomes extremely dense, the ice absorbs all other colors in the spectrum and reflects primarily blue, which is what we see. When glacier ice is white, that usually means that there are many tiny air bubbles still in the ice.
I have been to Alaska. How cold was it? CCCCccccold! I have lived on an island, in the Aleutian chain and I lived in Anchorage, Alaska for three years. Yes, driving the Al-Can is for crazy people. My hubby n' I did it in winter, so you can count me into that club. When we stopped for the night, on our hotel there was ice, I swear five inches thick. We had two gas tanks and one gas line froze. I suggested the blow dryer and it worked. I won't let hubby forget it, lol. I have MacGyver skills, with glue guns and blow dryers. Alaska is the craziest place, I have ever lived. They have parades to celebrate Ice Worms, they have fireworks in February-it isn't dark enough in July. Remember, it is the land of the Midnight sun. I have photos of being outside at 10pm wearing sunglasses. Yeah, you have to be a special breed to live there! And yes, I will call you both, brave and crazy! Yet, there is a magic in surviving the winter and soaking up the sunlight. Yes, it is true they only have two seasons, winter n' spring. Okay maybe quirky fits better. I didn't see this, but they race outhouses at FurRondy... They say it is the final frontier-mmh, maybe that is why so many Trekkies live there! ;D
Comments
My books are set in Alaska and the ice blue color is the color of my hero's eyes. He's Tlingit/Irish.
I live there too, Fairbanks at 50 below, and ice fog. Now that's a mean animal, ice fog.
I remember when the temperatures rose to 30 below, it was like summer, well, you know, so yes quirky, crazy, and magical. I loved it, can't wait to go back -- to Anchorage, not as cold there!
Love the winter festivals!
like stars hung low" = My favorite part. :-)
(I know, that was bad. But it was good!)
Ice worms. Yuck.
Denser? So over time, ice loses IQ points?
And short is cute.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
captured n' tossed
in a sea of deep memories
very cool line that....alaska is on the list of places i want to go...we have a place here where the icicles get 20-30 feet off the side of the mountain...its pretty cool...
Thank you for such a delightful poem and for your very informative recount of your life, living in Alaska...It is a place that I have always wanted to visit. However, I must confess that Spain with some sun, has to be the first place on my long list!!!
Nice to catch up with you Ella. I am about 5'2"..smallish too:)
Best Wishes,
Eileen:)
in crystals of ornate sky blue
But I wouldn't want to live in Alaska, I will freeze to death..he..he..
I loved seeing the glaciers when we were on an Alaska cruise, but I don't think I'd want to live there.
This poem is my favorite of yours, I think, Ella. (Well, so far, you know.)
Luv, K
Tatius-Thank you! Yeah, I had fun reliving my wild moments in the wild, lol ;D
Mary Ann-I kept thinking about how much we have learned from ice and are still learning! It is remarkable the stories trapped in the bubbles! Thank you :D
Gail-Yes, it does-I loved your, so intricate :D
Grace-I understand! We were fortunate to live in a building with the furnace. Our unit was the hottest-I don't like cold, either~
Thank you :D
Sherry-My first year in Anchorage we had 101" of snow! I swear between my childhood and Alaska, I have shoveled enough for three lifetimes! Fun, shoveling ice off my mom's roof-memories...lol
Thank you-wow romantic ;D You make me smile!
Sean-Thank you! I tried to make nice with ice, lol :D
Mary-Thank you! I was thrilled to go there and sad to leave. It is a special place, but too cold for me~
Kim-Thank you! I enjoyed reflecting on past memories-thank you for the prompt ;D What part?
Eileen-I love your thoughts on Spain ;D sounds heavenly! I hope you do get to go-summer is wonderful! Thank you for sharing-I can see you and I see eye to eye, for real~ Best Wishes to you!
Brian-Whoa! I was talking about my doorway...I can imagine! Oh, I do hope you get to go...the fishing is amazing! I had never seen a moose, till I went to Alaska. Moose everywhere, lol No, didn't see any bears, but did hear a lot of stories. I saw my first bear in Virginia, a few years ago. Thank you! :D
Shelly-Thank you! I hope you too, get to go! It is an amazing place :D
Alex-You made me laugh out loud! Dense and I.Q.-you are funny~
I am a day late giving you chills. We could of used oneyesterday-75 at my house! Crazy weather...
Thank you, you are sweet :D
There might be a chill tomorrow. Did you hear we might get snow?!
EJ-Thank you! I hope you are doing well! I will be by :D
Yolanda-Oh, I will have to check that out ;D sounds wonderful!
Yes, Fur Rondy is nuts! I remember seeing fireworks in July. I wondered why they bothered?! It was still daylight?! I am glad you know the magic! Ice fog...I grew up with that in Maine! It is wild to see...so glad you shared!!! ;D
Stay warm Wanda and have a wonderful weekend! Thank you~
I wonder if we could heat up Cherry Coke and drink it?! lol ;D
I've never lived -that- far north...the farthest I've ever lived was Waukegan, Illinois...and that's far enough for me! It got pretty cold there...not 'Alaska' cold...but cold!
Cool fact on ice, I never knew that before.
Have a great weekend!
massive blue. '.
An Ice Worm King and Queen election; an Earthquake Park and a Hammer Museum. Sounds my kind of place - provided someone turned the heating up as bit!
A fascinating article, thanks Ella.
McGuffy's Reader
http://www.mcguffysreader.blogspot.com
I do hope you get to visit someday!
:D Thank you~
Mark-Cold is cold! lol It just lasts longer in Alaska. Snow can show up in June...I did not see that happen! They can't predict the weather being so close to Arctic Circle. I remember my first year there. Weatherman predicted flurries-woke up to 14" of snow. ;D Thank you, you too!
captured n' tossed
in a sea of deep memories
layers of voices trapped in
massive blue."
Would love to do a cruise of Alaska someday, but I hate cruises, lol. I want to show my son glaciers and icicles as tall as a person :).
Hope you like Kindred.
Stay warm!
Susan-Yes, I know, met too! There is a lot to be learned in those frozen voices ;D I look forward to hearing more~ Thank you :D
Isis-Thank you! :D
I understand-I love the ocean, boating, but no desire to go on a cruise! There is another way~ Hope you get to take him, someday!
I am sure I will ;D
Becky-Yes, there is beauty everywhere~ You are welcome! :D
I think I look a bit harder, when winter plays her hand~
Judy-You made me smile! Thank you :D Yes, I would love to go for a visit, but wouldn't want to live there...too cold! I love that blue beauty~
Janelle-Yes, you know then! :D I would love to go back n' visit! Wow, I bet you did~ How fun~ Thank you!
Not sure what it is about that line, but it just really captured me. Beautiful. And I love the comparison to stars...
I've always wanted to go to Alaska, which is funny, cause I hate being cold. haha. but i want to see the glaciers and the norhern lights...someday...
It feels like spring, then :D
I think of all the animals and people that might have been around when the glacier was formed :D
Thank you! I have seen the Northern lights in Maine and Alaska! Maine was this lime green color, which reminded me of a Stephen King movie. Alaska was more red and blue-gorgeous! ;D I do hope you get to go someday~
Thank you!
MadKane-Thank you so much! :D