Thoughts of Ice

There was a time not so long ago 
when ice invoked images now to be told: 
a hot summer’s day to cool the body, 
a moonlit night with skates to glide, 
frozen sheets stacked on Lake Superior,
or sculptures carved solely from ice.

Ice forms a culture, activities, and fun,
yet we learn to respect its power to harm, 
to not fall through to waters deep,
or slip and shatter a limb or a skull.

Now ice invades homes with chilling hearts,
fearful and anxious, with doors to be shut. 
A boundary crossed that was thought to protect,
as ICE penetrates, with dis-ease and disrespect. 

Today, thoughts of ice disturb our hearts,
multiplied by thousands we feel overwhelmed, 
a chill reaches our bones and good folks gather,
to pray and chant, to march and ponder,
how to rid our state of too much ice,
while slowly, so carefully, we chip it away.

For 22 years the Minneapolis/St Paul neighborhoods was home. We now live an hour north and grieve for those who endure daily the chaos inflicted on their lives as it travels further through the state. My heart is with you. ❤️