"Winter Night in a Forest" by Vilhelm Kyhn‘Winter’s Perfection’ and Other Poetry by Carl Kinsky The Society December 18, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 8 Comments . Winter’s Perfection A Zen aesthetic guides winter’s perfection— uncluttered, austere, natural, still, subtle, embracing flaws and daring introspection, a quiet season, slow, without the hustle of spring and summer, harvest’s rush in fall. A single tree’s bent by the weight of the snow, a peasant’s hunched beneath the wood he hauls, a bridge through mountains leads to huts below. Winter’s sublime in these ink-painted scrolls, and yet we hang long strings of blinking lights. Although this season we try to extol less frenzied times we’ve children to delight so overdecorate, implicitly Abandoning winter’s simplicity. . . In Winter Some Find Beauty Just stubble’s left where once stalks stood in rows. Where tassels rustled during summer rains, snow’s scattered like salt spread so nothing grows Except for loneliness and empty pain. Above in meadows where lean calves grew fat, abundance gently reigned and creatures teemed; now grasses cower, safer to lay flat and silent while winds tear and ravens scream. On hilltops stand trees, shivering, beseeching the heavens, beggars pleading with the sky for warmth, more daylight, leafless branches reaching for answers but receiving no reply. In winter some find beauty though it be A beauty for eyes blind to what I see. . . Carl Kinsky is a country lawyer living in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 8 Responses jd December 18, 2022 Opposite perceptions of winter – excellent advice in poetic form in “Winter’s Perfection” and a perceived warning in the second. I enjoyed both perspectives and how beautifully they were expressed. Reply Carl Kinsky December 18, 2022 Thanks. I’m divided but never ambivalent on the season. Reply Paul Buchheit December 18, 2022 Very thoughtful sonnets, Carl. Winter is indeed simple beauty! Reply Carl Kinsky December 18, 2022 Sometimes. Thanks. Reply Mo December 18, 2022 Carl, I liked the two images of grass cowering and trees pleading for warmth. They certainly spoke loudly to me. Reply Carl Kinsky December 18, 2022 Be afraid. Be very afraid. Thanks. Reply Paul Freeman December 18, 2022 I enjoyed the imagery and the messages in these poems. Reply John Creekmore December 18, 2022 I can see the Zen connection, for Buddhist meditators strive for silence and stillness. Whatever its drawbacks, winter, especially at night, seems to provide more of these qualities than the other seasons. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
jd December 18, 2022 Opposite perceptions of winter – excellent advice in poetic form in “Winter’s Perfection” and a perceived warning in the second. I enjoyed both perspectives and how beautifully they were expressed. Reply
Mo December 18, 2022 Carl, I liked the two images of grass cowering and trees pleading for warmth. They certainly spoke loudly to me. Reply
John Creekmore December 18, 2022 I can see the Zen connection, for Buddhist meditators strive for silence and stillness. Whatever its drawbacks, winter, especially at night, seems to provide more of these qualities than the other seasons. Reply