Well Below Freezing
Coming down with the north wind,
I met a young family hiking up against it,
hearts set on the summit I’d just left.
I warned them of ice there,
spread on the ledge like frosting on a cake.
At height, it was well below
freezing. The wind would have their hats.
I told them about an alternate,
sheltered route, and got thanked for that.
As we parted company,
I heard the littlest son, clearly a forthright
young man— “His nose is running.”
Seven-time Pushcart Prize nominee Russell Rowland writes from New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, where he has judged high-school Poetry Out Loud competitions. His work appears in Except for Love: New England Poets Inspired by Donald Hall (Encircle Publications), and Covid Spring, Vol. 2 (Hobblebush Books). His latest poetry book, Magnificat, is available from Encircle Publications.
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