When the outdoor world seems black and white and gray but your photograph is in color. Everyone has had enough of the cold, snow, ice and dark. They’re ready for crocuses and daffodils bursting through the earth, looking for light.
I’ve photographed this tree before. I always like how the snow defines the branches.
Wordless Wednesday
It just takes some getting used to. The new season. It changed this morning. We like the changing seasons, right?
This chilly icy, now tonight, snowy weather.
So hard on the trees, though. The driving.
Getting cozy by adding covers, readying for hibernation, thinking about making pots of chili, soup. Boiling the kettle for tea. Oh yes, keep on knitting a wooly sweater.
*2018 Tim’s poem came to mind as I navigated the numerous sidewalks on my walk to Book Club on Sheridan Avenue tonight.
BY THEIR SIDEWALKS YOU WILL KNOW THEM – GUEST POET TIMONS ESAIAS- ORIGINALLY POSTED 2-19-2010
First posted in February 2010 and again in 2013. Thanks Timons Esaias Guest Poet
Tim’s Poem Came to Mind as I Admired the Concrete First Time in Two Weeks – Photographed Feb 2010
By Their Sidewalks You Will Know Them
Originally there were eleven Commandments
Moses, perhaps confused by the unfamiliar
snow, ice, and sidewalk,
botched one, and left it out.
But Buddha said that though Life is Pain,
falling on ice is gratuitous pain
and those who cause it, by neglect,
should never escape the Wheel of Rebirth;
and Lao-Tzu agreed, for those who will not
clear the path will never find the Way.
Zoroaster, in the endless war of light
against ice, demanded diligence;
claimed that those who surrender
the public way to the Enemy
have empty souls,
can scarcely be regarded as human.
The Prophet, regarding sidewalks and snow,
is silent; but his sura
Sand Drifting Against the Caravanserai Gate
is thought to apply. The condemnation there
is brutal and eternal.
Plato counted safe sidewalks as fundamental
to the ideal Republic, noting that those remiss
in this clear duty lacked all character;
and his pupil – perceptive, immortal Aristotle-
further declared, famously, that
lack of character
is destiny.
-Timons Esaias
Timons Esaias is a writer and poet living in Pittsburgh. His short stories, ranging from literary to genre, have been published in fourteen languages. He has had over a hundred poems in print, including Spanish, Swedish and Chinese translations, in such markets as 5AM, Bathtub Gin, Main Street Rag, Willard & Maple, Elysian Fields Quarterly: The Literary Journal of Baseball and many others. He has also been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award, and won the Asimov’s Readers Award. His poetry chapbook, The Influence of Pigeons on Architecture, sold out two editions. He is Adjunct Faculty at Seton Hill University, in the Writing Popular Fiction M.F.A. Program. This poem was originally published in hotmetalpoets.com when it existed.
This entry was posted on February 19, 2010. It was filed under poetry, Things in the Snow and was tagged with city scene, HIghland Park, photo of the day, photography, Pittsburgh, Poem, poet, poetry, shovel, sidewalk, snow, Timons Esaias, urban scene, winter scene.
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16 responses
Bill
Too deep for me.
February 19, 2010 at 7:07 am Edit
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Toni Kichi
Makes me happy that our sidewalks are clear and clean – thanks to Mike!! I couldn’t handle all those punishments! Seems like an almost normal day today!! Thanks for starting it with something special!!! Did Bill mean the snow was too deep – or the poem??!! Either way, I agree! My mind is mush (like this snow will soon be) — been in the house too long!!!
February 19, 2010 at 8:42 am Edit
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Dorothy
All tis is great Ruth. It is like your photos and words are a diary of living through these snowy days.
Dorothy
February 19, 2010 at 9:12 am Edit
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erica
Too wonderful for … words?? 🙂 Changes my attitude on shoveling, altho I am already somewhat aware that I smile and feel satisfaction when I get to the concrete! A bit anxious now, tho, about the snow still on the bushes, bending branches low over the sidewalk leading to my caravanserai gate ……! 🙂
February 19, 2010 at 9:52 am Edit
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Arlene Weiner
There is a special place in hell
where, frozen in ice, only his rear
exposed to Satan’s teeth, he’ll dwell
whose sidewalk’s untouched while his driveway’s clear.
February 19, 2010 at 10:50 am Edit
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joseph k
that is one great photo
joseph
February 19, 2010 at 4:27 pm Edit
Reply
Bonnie Imhoff
I know the snow is a pain, but it is beautiful. I enjoy the pic very much.
POST NAVIGATION
I was going to post the results of a light snowfall in Ohio where I’m visiting… but then –
my friend Kristin from Florida (and steadfast blog follower) texted a dozen photos today that fascinated me.
Thought you’d enjoy seeing the Ice Hotel in Quebec City. Hotel de Glace.
I’ve never been to an Ice Hotel but I loved the virtual tour via her photos.
I asked if your lips stick to the glass made of ice. You lick it first. Brrrrrrr.
(Maura said it reminded her of Elsa’s Castle in Frozen)
the only bathroom they saw 
https://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/
….at least the Zamboni part.
Frank Zamboni introduced the ice resurfacing machine in 1949.
The weekly photo challenge is names
Anyone who watches hockey has heard of the name Zamboni. I just like the sound of it. Who wouldn’t love to drive one around the ice? 
Ice Rink in New York City.
Not certain that’s a word, deicing,de-icing but before Pittsburgh takeoff, a team sprayed down the plane.
Flying in January can be feel iffy in northern climes.
The beginning of my midwinter break last week. Preparing to leave winter for a lovely warm week, part one. Grateful for the crew who deiced the plane!
Sunday afternoon I was still thinking about how to best illustrate Transition in a single image. The “yarn to knitted hat” photo was well received. What else could I depict to show transition?
Talking about it with my sister, she suggested the ice cube.
I was hoping to get a lone droplet falling off but this one is about to drop. 
In my sisters kitchen, New York.
Photographing ice reminded me of trying to photograph glass so it doesn’t look blah.
I like responding to the challenges and seeing how others interpret the same theme.
Makes me feel good about clearing my sidewalk, even though it is pain.
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So glad you reposted this!!!! xo
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Fits the last month or so very well!
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So funny, and the photo is a perfect pairing Ruth. Stay warm and cozy. Spring is right around the corner!
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LOVE the poem! Smart, witty, cheeky creativity makes me smile.
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Wonderful winter / snow photos.
Liked by you
Thank you