Ancient glacial ice
bleeds like viscous fluid
outwards,
forced to circulate.
On the pulsing rim of oceans,
frozen water snaps,
breaks booming into pieces:
Loudly the berg is calved,
born to independence.
Viable. Afloat.
Freely drifting ice land,
sculpted by wind;
hewn by waves;
notched by whittling currents.
Castle, pinnacle, blocky, dome;
tabular, wedge and dry-dock:
Uninviting icescape,
unstable and dissolving.
A bergy-bit is as small as a house;
a growler the size of a Baby Grand -
but unwelcoming, inhospitable.
Nothing lives here,
on this piece of frozen sky:
It is the blue of airless space -
or white; the bubbled breath
of Ages trapped within.
Released and now expiring.
Want to review or comment on this poem?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviews of "Iceberg"
Reviewed by Joshua Miller (Reader)
Reviewed on January 23, 2005
I can safely say I am not inspired by icebergs but Kate this is inspirational. After reading it a few more times I do not feel it is as forced as I first thought.
This is exceptional imagery:
"On the pulsing rim of oceans,
frozen water snaps,
breaks booming into pieces:
Loudly the berg is calved,
born to independence.
Viable. Afloat"
I thought you were through with icebergs? JAYSUS my bones ached with bitter cold as I read your word picture and heard each snap and boom of the iceberg's frozen heartbeat. Such vivid imagery--such power in your pen--STUNNING composition and I believe you've completed your assignment perfectly!
On to warmer climes--(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :)
My teeth are chattering just reading this, Kate. I loved the line: "of Ages trapped within". The ice seems so ominous to me, a life force within itself. Very nice write.
Take care,
Sherry
Goodness, Felix, how awesome!! I have living encyclopaedia Ed Kostro to thank for all the research, and I sweated over every word of this from my swaddled study deep in West Country England, so I am truly delighted to hear you say that there is an authentic ring to this write! I have been no further North than Wordsworth's Lake Disrict, and my fingers literally turned blue with just the thoughts of putting this to "paper"; you must have VERY warm blood!! Bless you, Kate xx
Hi Kate as an old past crewmember of icebreakers that prowled the Canadian Arctic I muxst say you have a good knowledge of your subject. I have seen and heard all you have written about and it stirred long forgotten memories in me of my own voyages to the vast Northern frontier.
I knew you could do it, Kate! A most interesting Bergy Poem - 'A Piece of Frozen Sky' - marvelous. Most interesting names for different types of icebergs, too.
A book of nature inspired poems and essays, written from the heart and soul of a life-long nature, animal, and wilderness lover, and dedicated to today’s children - Earth's only hope for a better tomorrow.
This book won 'The Poetry Category'
Share
Print
Save
Follow
This is exceptional imagery:
"On the pulsing rim of oceans,
frozen water snaps,
breaks booming into pieces:
Loudly the berg is calved,
born to independence.
Viable. Afloat"
Well done. How did your tutors like it???
Josh
I thought you were through with icebergs? JAYSUS my bones ached with bitter cold as I read your word picture and heard each snap and boom of the iceberg's frozen heartbeat. Such vivid imagery--such power in your pen--STUNNING composition and I believe you've completed your assignment perfectly!
On to warmer climes--(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :)
Take care,
Sherry
Felix
pulsing rim forced to circulate?
You did-ed it. CONGRATULATIONS. In you minmimilist way too.
Ice one kold Kate..