    While winter here in the Northern Hemisphere is allegedly on the wane, though a big storm is expected in the Heartland of the U.S. over the next few days and possibly into New England by Wednesday-Thursday, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are watching summer bid them adieu and will soon be enjoying the beauty of autumn. Shortly thereafter however, winter’s woes and frozen toes will eventually make them as irritable and longing for warmth, as we are now. So it is to them, that I send this reminder of what they have in store.
Bundle up folks, here it comes,
Jake.
P.S. Substitute July for January on the first line. How strange does that sound?
Will this ever melt?
Â
WINTER‘S GRIP
 The bitter cold of January,
drives us all inside,
not one more, than minutes few,
can anyone, abide.
The nose, the ears, the fingers,
these parts, are felt the first,
until the total being,
knows not, which part, feels worse.
 *
And the snow, just keeps on coming,
it’s piled up high, outside,
danger lurks now, just beyond,
and from our vision, hides.
People, dogs, and police,
appear suddenly, without warning,
and add to that, the reflecting sun,
that brings, not a bit of warming.
***
                                                                     Jack Downing
                                                                         Jan. 2011
Copyright© Jack Downing, aka Jake @poemsandponderings.wordpress.com. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or disseminated in any manner without the expressed written consent of the author. JRD. 3/4/13
poemsandponderings 
We are in the midst of winter storm Saturn…….i am putting off shoveling the sidewalks but I probably should go clear a path for the mail lady, right?
Only if you want your bills delivered on time.. I heard it was coming your way, they still aren’t sure what effect it will have here. I hope you weather the storm well and stay safe. By the way, no meteorologist around here has mentioned a name for the storm, is that just your local people’s idea?
________________________________
I think it is a Weather Channel thing only. They seem to think everything needs named. Woke up to another 6 inches or so—–more coming down. It is pretty but I am ready for spring.
Oh, how I know what you’re feeling. What did Punxutawney Phil have to say? Spring is right around the corner? Man, I hope so!
________________________________
Brrr.. it has been the oddest winter here.. it has been colder than ..well cold.. then will have three or four days of 70-80 degree highs and then boom another stretch of cold.. I have never seen so many peoples bed linens out on the bushes for such a long stretch around here… Spring is near… Yay!
It took me a minute to get the bed linens on the bushes thing, but after scratching my head and getting my mind out of the gutter, I figured it had to be to protect the shrubbery from a frost.. Then my mind retreated into the gutter where it belongs.. lol
________________________________