cave beneath the waterfall
In the cold weather, I think about the waterfalls we saw this summer. As the temperature gets lower, they succumb. First the water freezes at the edges, building up on the rocks and ledges. Then, gradually icicles build and the surface water freezes. By mid-winter, the waterfall will be a frozen cataract, a glass house of ice. Within the frozen falls are ice caverns and icicles, places where water runs and where water stands still, and places where the ice traps sunlight to shimmer and sparkle.
One of the waterfalls we visited this summer was Smith Falls (see ‘niche beneath waterfall’ under the category ‘waterways’, published October 21, 2011). At the base of the waterfall was a small cave. In winter, the entrance to this cave must be a crystalline curtain of icicles and glass.
Below, in my poem and drawing, I remember the cave and waterfall in summer.
~
shelter
‘a small cave is hidden beneath the falls’
– trail guide
~
sip of tea
candles lit in evening
a lap quilt tucked
relief from freshet
~
cave, respite
beneath two newly reconciled
slabs of bedrock
or where vulnerable sediments finally fail
succumb to the reach of water
~
spurt and shard
the brawl subsides
and damp recedes
pollen settles
~
concentric rings
and space is made
to occupy
~
© Jane Tims 2011
© Jane Tims 2011
nichepoetryandprose 
This one makes me think of Japanese prints.
And the poem is very peaceful.
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Sonya Chasey
December 15, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Hi Sonya. Thanks! Jane
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jane tims
December 16, 2011 at 7:34 am
I am enjoying your sketches and poetry. You are talented!
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Fergiemoto
December 14, 2011 at 12:11 am
Hi. Thank you! I am glad you are visiting my blog. Jane
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jane tims
December 14, 2011 at 6:59 am
I love the way you paint/draw pictures with your words. Wonderful post, Jane. 🙂
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Robin
November 30, 2011 at 8:51 am
Hi Robin. I enjoyed making this post very much… all motivated by that lovely little nest basket! Jane
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jane tims
November 30, 2011 at 10:16 pm
As always, excellent post Jane.
– Denis
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JD
November 29, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Thanks! Jane
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jane tims
November 29, 2011 at 9:21 pm
love the picture
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empressalice
November 28, 2011 at 8:08 am
Hi. Thanks. Jane
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jane tims
November 29, 2011 at 7:01 am