Fire and Ice

 

When I checked in with the morning, I opened my door to what promised to be a blue sky and budding sunrise.  I went to the front of my building and was just in time to see the sun, like a ball of fire, round and full coming over the hill.  It reminded me of the burning bush Moses witnessed.   Then when I downloaded a picture I shot yesterday afternoon, I thought of the poem Fire and Ice that most of us read in high school. I thought it was maybe William Blake since he wrote such dark poetry, fire and all. I was surprised to see that it was one of my  favorites, Robert Frost.

Ice cycles are in full bloom in Upstate New York this weekend.  I thought this was quite spectacular, but Bill's word choice might be better...dangerous.  The poem shares all the passions and emotions of life, and especially when dealing with brain injury. There are the bright, over sunny days when all is going right with the world, and then the days when you look at your partner and see that he or she is not who they once were and grieve for that. Those are the days of ice, when chilled to the bone in sadness, we look deep into the eyes and soul of the one we love and find indeed, they are still there.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Photos by Ginger Bristow Gaitor