Posted on by Sanaa

On a cold day in January

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Of late, I have been thinking of connections
served
in a white bowl of fresh fruit;
we talk about political poetry as if it’s a kind of effusion
about something going on—
can we hope to see past the glitter, the charm
and gravel in voice?

I am percussion,
city heat blushing with the surge of ongoing atrocities
tucked
beneath the rug of the fourth estate;
do they really think they can separate ache (that strips
carnations of colour) from writing?

Despite its fragility, the city comes out as artwork
invaluable
in medium of ice; like darker veins, the cold winter is our friend
for it freezes the larvae of pests and allows anarchy
to die disheveled, diffused
and soft—in my book, that’s better than bedside coffee
and croissants.

 

 

Photo credits: Pinterest

Word List: ache, gravel, percussion, city, carnation, bedside, heat, bread, poems 💝

Posted for Open Link Night #281 @ dVerse Poets Pub

50 Replies to “On a cold day in January”

  3. I love the immediacy of this January poem, Sanaa, and its messages, both metaphorical and real, especially ‘I have been thinking of connections served in a white bowl of fresh fruit’; ‘city heat blushing with the surge of ongoing atrocities’; and ‘like darker veins, the cold winter is our friend’.

    Reply

  5. ‘I am percussion,
    city heat blushing with the surge of ongoing atrocities
    tucked
    beneath the rug of the fourth estate’ – Wow!
    I feel the city heat, rain-drenched streets in contrast to the cosiness of the coffee and croissants. I would love to know which city is shown in the picture as it looks very familiar.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

      (it was an image I found on Pinterest, not sure which city it is)

      Reply

  9. I like this one, Sanaa. As Glenn points out, it doesn’t have your usual romantic message, and I think it gains from it.

    Reply

  11. Wonderful writing! I especially like “I am percussion,
    city heat blushing with the surge of ongoing atrocities
    tucked beneath the rug …” Really good stuff!

    Reply

  12. Evocative write! I get the sense that these cold, hard times are what we need, collectively. There is a peace that exudes even from the cold rainy day pictured above. Your poems always get me thinking and feeling! 💖

    Reply

  13. This is splendid poetry Sanaa, well crafted and beautifully written, loved the image you paired with your verse.
    “I am percussion,
    city heat blushing with the surge of ongoing atrocities”
    Explosive and engaging!

    Reply

  18. This is fantastic. I especially liked the last stanza and these lines,
    “the cold winter is our friend
    for it freezes the larvae of pests and allows anarchy
    to die disheveled, diffused
    and soft—in my book, that’s better than bedside coffee
    and croissants.”
    Winter has never been my favorite part of the year. You have brought a new light to it.

    Reply

  20. I wish for your words to be right, that the winter will chill the flames burning our country and our world. I like the simple images here–very effective.

    Reply

  21. These lines:
    “do they really think they can separate ache (that strips
    carnations of colour) from writing?”

    It’s true. Whatever is said and printed, it’s still weighted by our experiences and perception.

    Reply

  23. This so eloquent, Sanaa,
    “the cold winter is our friend
    for it freezes the larvae of pests and allows anarchy
    to die disheveled, diffused”
    this is briilliant..JIM

    Reply

  24. this is beautiful and timely. Those who commented that it did not have a romantic theme, are of course, correct. But it is doubtful to say this poem is a better poem because of that. This is a different poem, that stands strongly on its own without a need to be compared to your always stunningly vivid and sometimes achingly tender romantic poetry. This is just not a romantic poem, and your romantic poems are just not political poems. That’s it. Ok, with that out of the way, here goes: 😉
    Sanaa, this is a wonderful poem, this line causes me great reflection:
    “we talk about political poetry as if it’s a kind of effusion
    about something going on—”
    it is interesting to think that political poems are just a reaction to the times of the day, when in fact they can be more universal, engaging on ongoing principles that shape our political or cultural endeavors. I like how you frame in a way what is important by bringing it down so closely to what is personal, the “little” things that touch our live, the art and the expression- both things that become fragile and suspect in authoritarian or anarchist regimes. I am afraid that winter offers little protection, however, to the current (and cyclical) dangers. But the the wish inherent to be able to rest and be and just live the beautiful life around us without it being appropriated to the purposes of power grabs, is itself beautiful. It is a beautiful wih at the center of your wishful thinking here. thank you for this! 🙂

    Reply

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