Winter in New York: Fine Dark Inspiration

Everyone feels like they’re getting their asses kicked by winter right now, so we felt it was the right time to tap into our most beloved poets here in New York City and ask them how they’re dealing.

Turns out, a little bit of poetry can actually be transformative and therapeutic way to process those glum feelings, darkened scenes, and near-death-black-ice-slipping-experiences. We’ve all been there.

We know we are all in this together, counting down the minutes and days until that first thawed morning when the air has shaken off that heavy chill and we can leave our winter coats at home. Until then, we’ll be sipping beverages in early darkness, curling up with loved ones, scrawling in notebooks, and wrapping up tightly. Enjoy these haiku and savor the last stretches of hibernation.

Why do anything?

I know if I had a job

I’d have a snow day.

So much else to do:

Seamless, Netflix, Instagram,

filtered pics of snow.

-Mary von Aue

Waking and shaking

Outside it is flaking * * I

feel like forsaking

Frosted autos with

crystal white windows wait for

day to melt them free

Walk on winter world ~

Water forms the frozen floor _

A fragile facade

-Steel Neal

Met Boyfriend in fall

Fiancé came in winter

New husband by spring

Met on Macdougal

Forgot your name for 6 months

Said it just today

Radiator sun

Can’t lay naked in winter

Body raise with heat

-Megan DiBello

A bird cried and fell

In the cold, cruel, lonely street

It’s a long walk home

Climbing the ladder

Work your fingers to the bone

Winter pays no one

- Rachel Veroff

Shoulders up to ears

Little birds ruffled up big

Wild origami

-Carolyn Silveira

This is just the first in a three-part series of haiku celebrating the final days of winter. Check back Monday for more unique perspectives on this thoughtful time of year.