"This Winter Worse Than Most" by Madelyne Camrud

"Twilight" Anna Syperek

At night I awaken and listen

to the house creak, its boards sharpening

in the cold. Days we stay inside,

looking out the window,

and wonder at a world so deep

into temperature. A nuthatch

tweaks thistle seed from a feeder

suction-cupped to the pane.

In moments like this spent close to glass,

how understandable my life is,

inside the heavy ribs of my navy sweater.

I watch the small bird rise

and light on a high branch.

"This Winter Worse than Most" by Madelyne Camrud, from Oddly Beautiful. © New Rivers Press, 2013.

November Ice

How did this happen? It seems way too soon to this fisherman.

Brrrrrr-rrr.

But, lest one be cowed by this annual phenomenon and tempted to stay home by the fire with a good book, Patagonia Fly Fish has provided a concise little pep talk, and an attractive role model.

 Our friend @outsidehilary on the Clearwater outside Seeley, MT
dealing with the ice that comes with being tough and fishing in the winter...
keep leading by example Hilary! Photo @steven_gnam

Hey, Hilary, I'm tough, too. See you out there.

Breaking the Ice

I finally have an opening. I'm mostly healthy. I will go to the river. As Bass Lake showed today, it's time to break the ice and get some fishing done.