Face
The face of winter
hangs rigid like death
pinching my ears
stabbing at my nose
Plumes of steam
from concrete slits
blur hunchback figures
shuffling through
the matte scenes
in ashen white
I’m looking for heat
stamping
flicking ash
on lunar prints
sealed in fortnight ice
waiting for steel facades
and great sheens of glass
to emanate your face
from rippling sepia shapes
poem and image © copyright David Francis Barker 2012
image digitally created
Ciscography 
You have captured the epitome of our winter faces.
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Thank you Colline!
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Wow! I’m suddenly wishing it were winter here just to be part of that imagery you invoke!
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You are very kind ‘spider’. Thank you very much.
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That’s what I see when I think of what it looks like when you get to Heaven and I’m not at all being sappy or sentimental. Amazing.
Splendid, David. Splendid.
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J – Thank you!
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Some terrific images and feelings here, David. Something I would feel in a “normal” Upstate New York winter…stil waiting, this year.
I’m intrigued by the illustration. Looks so much like a watercolor done on a sopping wet page. Beautifully captures the figures backlit through the steam. Just great!
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Hi – thank you so much! Well, I have to admit, I was a little influenced by American movies, and listening to Steely Dan (who, although they wrote a lot about LA were from NY of course!). I’d also been looking at the cover of Pretzel Logic, one of my favourites, and that helped. Thank you once again.
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Beautiful, David! I felt the chill from the concrete as well as the blurring of the unseen, I really like it! 😀
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Thank you Eve, appreciate it.
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This is so dreamlike I had to pinch myself to remind myself of the cold! The dreamy steamy painting is more than wonderful. You always amaze me, inspire me, lift me up out of myself, DF.
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Great images my friend 🙂
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This is such a vividly imaged poem, David – I had to go put a sweater on! That stark, “stabbing” cold, as I imagine would be felt by a homeless person, “looking for heat” – and,
waiting for steel facades
and great sheens of glass
to emanate your face
from rippling sepia shapes
gives one pause. Is this person waiting for the emanation of his own reflection? Waiting for the face of hope? Or of resignation and death?
Great poem!!
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Thank you Betty!
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Thank you very much!
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Thank you Betty! Well, I ‘imagined’ it was someone I was fond of… but who knows? Thank you!
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Granbee, and as ever you are so very kind and I thank you so much!
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Beautifully captured David – winter faces!
As we keep saying “Roll on spring” Let’s hope our faces have some shades of pink and other hopeful shades.
Christine
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Thank you Christine! Warmer today! We’re heading up your way for a couple of days on Tuesday, staying near Pocklington.
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Enjoy your trip! Pocklington is only an hour or two away from us!
Christine
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Thank you Christine!
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Winter’s face relayed with grace…
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Thank you Lindy!
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Winter’s face will soon be melting into its warmer but unpredictable off-Spring…
Very nice!
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You’re very kind, thank you!
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