January has so far given us temperatures as high as 80 degrees and as low as 29. I’ve brought plants in (and back out and back in). I’ve gathered milkweed with monarch caterpillars. I’ve worn a heavy coat and shorts. Winter in South Louisiana has gotten weird. The Japanese magnolias are in full bloom. The sunrise and sunset are bright red. Since the New Year, I’ve released three monarch butterflies. And everywhere, Omicron Covid is on the steep rise. Nature is speaking. Is anyone listening?
Last night I had chosen a sunset photo from my phone; however, a sweep through Facebook revealed an amazing natural phenomenon from my friend and naturalist Susan H. Edmunds. She granted creative permission, so today I give you a rabbit hole you could choose to go down: frost flowers.
Frost flowers! When the temperature quickly drops, as it did last night in rural St. Martin Parish, sap remaining in the plants’ stems begin to freeze and crack the stem. When this liquid exudes through the minute cracks, it freezes and forms beautifully delicate frost flowers that vanish when the sun’s golden rays touch them. Isn’t nature just grand?
Susan H. Edmunds, Facebook Jan. 11, 2022
Golden light on frost
Margaret Simon, draft
illuminates, melts away
cold morning moment.
Write your own small poem in the comments. Leave encouraging comments for other writers.
Reflections on the Teche 
For now, I’m going to luxuriate in the warming, lovely moment of your poem…as I head out into the freezing cold of Chicagoland. Thank you!
Brrr. But gorgeous golden light!
In a cold snap
our sap
seeps, freezes.
Ephemeral flowers
bloom on stems.
Sun comes,
sublimates our stunning show.
Such great s words. Sublimates…
Wonderful words!
Love those lines, “In a cold snap/our sap/seeps, freezes…” Fabulous!
Sensational!
I love the golden image of sunrise
and Mary Lee’s s sounds –
And what amazing picture!
Iridescent swirls
Salute the warm morning sun,
In one brilliant flash.
“Iridescent swirls” captures their beauty.
“one brilliant flash” — YES!
I love the contrast of “iridescent swirls” with “one brilliant flash”!
Lovely…I like the saluting of the sun
❤️the salute
I can feel the cold melting away in your poem, Margaret.
Metamorphosis
frost’s curly ribbons
create a flower fantasy
in the morning light
I went with S sounds…love your “frost…flower…fantasy!”
Nice, Rose…. the alliteration… flower fantasy… metamorphosis… love it!
Love those curly ribbons.
I love “frost’s curly ribbons…”! It reminds me of reading Joyce Sidman’s SWIRL BY SWIRL to two year-olds, and then listening to their ideas of “swirls” in their lives (many swirly curly-heads and ribbons in the group)!
Frost steals in
Sap swells
Sugary curls
Burst their seal
Elegant
Evanescence
Wonderful word choice. I love “sugary curls”.
Frosted champagne
Slim silhouette of
swirled silk charmeuse,
nature’s winter fashions
is ready for the runway.
I love the runway metaphor and your s’s and r’s!
Oh, that lovely charmeuse!
So late…..first to post, now to read the rest. Never heard of these and love the photo.
The Rarest Flower
Nature’s silent scalpel
held in delicate fingers of frozen air
slides into stem’s skin, freezes its sap,
curls its edges and sculpts a buttery flower.
This rare metamorphosis,
creates miracle blooms,
their momentary preciousness alive, only
until the kiss of morning sun.
Glorious and sudden, its beauty
mostly unknown, unseen.
Draft, Janet Clare Fagal
Oh that silent scalpel of nature as a sculptor of beauty.
I have been working on revisions for this poem hoping it could stand alone since I am not sure frost flowers are well known. So it might work better with the photo next to it. I think this version is closer to what I am feeling. Any thoughts appreciated. Maybe your students would want to compare and contrast the two versions and see which they 1) like better and 2) think is a stronger poem. I’d be curious to hear what they say but I know you are busy. I am going to go and research frost flowers a bit, I was really taken with this one.
Janet, Send your versions through an email. We are all home on quarantine, but we can probably work it in next week.
Forgot to put the poem in!
The Rarest Flower
Nature’s silent scalpel
in delicate fingers of frozen air
slides into stem’s skin, freezes its sap,
curls its edges and sculpts buttery petals.
It births a tender frost flower,
her miracle bloom, precious
and rare, lasting only
until the kiss of morning sun.
And you, smitten by her beauty,
snap a picture for your locket.
Draft 2, Janet Clare Fagal
Sending an email.