woodcut image, “Winter Sleep,” by Yumi Kawaguchi, from DogwoodStudioAlaska
Snow embraces trees
who embrace winter as
winter embraces land.
Land sleeps, a cave
of cold-warm that cradles
curled furred dreamers,
cryo’ed reptiles, seeds.
All seeds sleep. Some
feed hearty plumed and
scurried, pulsing with
life despite inert season.
Many wake to Spring bloom.
[44 words]
Merril is today’s host of dVerse‘ Quadrille. Merril says:
So, today I’m asking you to use the word “embrace” in a quadrille. The word can be used as a noun, verb, or a modifier.
Tao Talk 
when you have thick snow I can almost imagine the trees sleeping, embraced by such a blanket.
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I was inspired by looking outside. It’s embracing all except for the colorful fluffs running and flying amongst it :)
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😄😊
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I love this, Lisa. Such beautiful images of nature sleeping and waiting for spring!
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Many thanks, Merril :)
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You’re very welcome.
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This is absolutely gorgeous, Lisa! I can picture those trees ❤️
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Thank you, Sanaa! I went outside and took some pics with my phone after posting the poem and may add them on to the bottom of the post.
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I love the way you have scattered the prompt word throughout the first stanza. Lovely Lisa!
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Thanks, Linda. I wanted to show we’re all in this together, embracing each other, regardless of season.
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What a joyful hibernation song! I love the oxymoron: ‘a cave
of cold-warm’ – it mirrors the effect of the whole poem, which should be cold but somehow feels very warm!
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What wonderful feedback, Ingrid <3
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I love the multi-layered embrace, Lisa, and the thought of all the seeds sleeping and pulsing with life. Hurry spring!
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:) YES! I worry though because winter got such a late start that it will stay longer. Oh I hope not.
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Wow, Lisa, this is a stunning piece! I feel as if I am a petal watching and waiting for the rest of nature to bloom over me, it’s just that consuming and beautiful in your imagery.
“Snow embraces trees
who embrace winter as
winter embraces land.”
Don’t ask me why, I immediately thought of Walt Whitman here but maybe because of the repetition, I guess? Kind of reminds me of something he wrote. I really don’t know but it’s beautiful and it’s one hell of an opener! :)
I love the theme of waiting in the darkest moments to embrace spring when it eventually arrives. Just that endurance to bloom, it sends off a message of hope, in my opinion. Such lovely writing. <3
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Many thanks to you, Lucy, and I’m glad you were inspired by it <3
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Hibernation, what a reality. The bear have it down pat. Your poem has both the heft of a winter mantle, and the zest of life beneath in slumber, dreaming of Spring.
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:) <3 Thank you, Glenn.
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The miracle of life lying dormant below in winter, and the eternal promise of spring when it all springs to life once again never grows old.
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It’s something we can depend on <3
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Even Winter’s coldest embrace is still, umm…comforting, eh? Awesome write Lisa.
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Ron, I started thinking about how the frozen ground offers protection to so many critters who have dens or are buried in it. I prefer my own cave of blankets. So glad you enjoyed it, Ron, thanks!
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enjoyed the hope of spring to come in this … how you started with winter and ended with possible germination!
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Kate, the poem built itself as my stream of consciousness had its way. I started thinking of plant seeds as equal partners to the “mobile life” on the planet. Can you tell I’ve been cooped up too long ;) I don’t want to know where it will take me next. Feeling sorry for covid? lol
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lol you are making best use of your time alone, I like this … let it meander!
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Is this written for the illustration? or did you find the illustration after writing? They’re wonderful together.
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I almost always find image after writing and this is what I did with this one. Thanks, Alexandra. I bookmarked the artist in etsy also as she has some really nice artwork there.
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You show us well that winter is truly embracing
Happy Monday
Much💗love
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Thank you <3
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The circle of life … circle of life. Lovely poem.
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:) Thanks, Helen.
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Lovely quadrille, Lisa. The trees may embrace winter…I just brace myself!
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lol I hear you! Thanks, Lynn.
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Very nice Lisa..love the picture as well. I like the image of the animals sleeping under the snow and in the ground. My buds are popping ready down here in NC.
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Must be nice to live where it’s so warm so much of the year.
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It really is great to have a long spring and fall, but the summers are killers! :>)
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Stunning piece with the layered use of the word embrace and animated visuals.
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Many thanks, Eugi!
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The pleasure is all mine, Lisa!
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What a lovely way to u see embrace.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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Bravo! That’s so awesome, a beautiful ode to Winter!
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Thank you, Jay. When it’s really winter and not just playing at it it’s beautiful.
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You’re welcome, Lisa. :)
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Though the poem is about winter, it embraces the reader warmly. ❤️
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Many thanks, Punam <3
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My pleasure, Li. 🙂
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I loved your poem, Lisa, and especially this little nugget:
-David
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Many thanks, David, very happy you enjoyed the poem.
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All of these winter cuddles as the world embraces such an important season of rest. I really like the egg imagery for the seeds. Thought-provoking. :) I loved this one.
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Happy you enjoyed the poem :) Thank you for reading and commenting.
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All that embracing, especially in sleep, something we can all recognise as maternal and comforting. lovely image.
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Merril’s prompt brought out a lot of warm fuzzies <3
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It did :)
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Captures the snuggled feel well. Good job.
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Thank you!
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I love the pared down language here, so reflective of winter. And wonderful woodcut! (K)
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Kerfe, thank you. If you check out the artist’s link you’ll see some other good stuff.
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I wiil!
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I really enjoyed the movement from embrace to sleep and arising/blooming, so many layers and possibilities in this.
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Paul, thank you very much <3
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So welcome Lisa.
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Lovely descriptions, Li. I can see snow embracing through your poetry. :)
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Kitty, thank you and glad you enjoyed the poem :)
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You are welcome, Li. I sure did enjoy the poem. :)
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The video is awesome…how I wish I could see that for real here. “Many wake to Spring bloom.”…I’m waiting!
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Thanks, Max! Looking out, it’s still snowing. Making up for lost time I guess. I can’t wait though, I need to get out to do a few errands. Bundling up in a minute to snowblow the driveway. You never know about the snow, it could visit you with a blanket of it one day :)
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I really hope so! Be safe Lisa!
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I like how the cave cradles the dreamers, it pairs well with the seeds sleeping. Life is always there, hidden away! 💞
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Yes <3 Love your comment, Tricia.
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So cool
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Your quadrille is excellent, and it’s always nice to hear some Zoolon.
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Many thanks, Ken. Glad you know and like Zoolon :)
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