Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Power of One

Teasel, bent at fence

Frozen


Mailboxes in the Morning

Mounds line the edges of the roads, a crusty ridge, where Wednesday’s snow was left by the township plow--a small truck with a blade. The face through the frosted windshield, the grown version of a boy I remember seeing on the playground, years ago, behind the small school at the end of the road. Not much by measure, the snow, probably less than 6 inches—but able to close down this community and most around it, in a single snowfall. The boy, now man, splitting time behind the wheel of fire truck and plow, an integral part of this rural landscape.

Ice on Golden Alexanders


With a shortage of salt this year, county roads are barely passable, the accumulation, hardened now by traffic, into dense, immovable ice. Schools have been closed for several days, businesses empty of their patrons.
And the open farm fields, that rarely disappear entirely beneath white, are trimmed by drifts extending across the ditches with graceful, wind-carved arms.

Snow on Pasture Grass

Like the dunes at the edges of the oceans, where countless grains rest and nestle together, strong until just one is dislodged--then broken and blown on the wind.

When our fields wear white, I wander,
and search until I find just one.
So fragile,
so fleeting,
so powerful,
that I would hold my breath to save it.



Can you see just one?

.

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17 comments:

Vickie said...

Lovely post and photography. The beauty of winter is amazing, despite its hardships.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Fantastic photos.
Blessings,Ruth

Anonymous said...

Such Stunning Photos! :)

Diane AZ said...

I had to look up what Golden Alexanders are. I think they look prettiest the way you show them with ice.

KaHolly said...

Stunning - words and prose.

Anonymous said...

Got it!! You help me to believe in miracles!!

Kelly said...

The cold doesn't seem cold when you describe it...warm and beautiful words. And that perfect little snowflake at the end...amazing!

Cheryl said...

As always beautiful photographs.....such amazing captures.......you and your camera are in harmony.....

Just one ....brilliant.....

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Despite the sunshine these images look cold yet beautiful.

Heather said...

Looks like you and I have been doing similar things with our cameras during this lovely winter storm in southern Ohio! Thank goodness I switched to a fully charged camera battery before the power went out! Still trying to get all my photos organized and ready for posting, though... Today: The Thaw!

Mary said...

Beautiful, Nina. You do appreciate every season. No matter how difficult...

Mary

Kim said...

Lovely photgraphy and I love the story behind the weather.

Susan Gets Native said...

I see it!
Isn't it amazing that something so delicate and beautiful can cause so much drama????
Were you glad to see the ice dripping off the trees today? I sure was!

Naturegirl said...

Once again a poetic way of looking at your world covered in snow and ice!

Unknown said...

the pictures a beautiful. It amazes that me that the ice and snow can cause such destruction and yet be so amazing to view!

Rose said...

Stunning images, Nina, in both photos and prose. The snow and ice create such pictures of beauty as long as we can stay in our homes and don't have to navigate the ice-packed roads.

KGMom said...

When I saw your post title I wasn't sure which direction you might go.
The Power of One is a favorite novel of mine, set in southern Africa.
The one you found would not be found there!