Frigid winter is my torment; I shall not want.
I lie wrapped in a cocoon of a comforter’s warmth,
a sleeping cat lays still beside me.
Frigid gnaws at my shivering soul.
He lures me outside in evil deceit
for a frozen winter’s sake.
I trudge through drifts of plow’s leavings,
and fear the ice underneath,
for there is no one with me
to right a body when it falls.
Frigid cannot comfort me where I lie.
Winter prepares arrival in months of color,
as the enemy of light and warmth.
It annoints my breath with an air of frost,
and fills a cup with inky black tea.
Surely new spring and warmth will follow
In the forty-eight coming days,
and I shall dwell in the house of new beginnings,
until bitter December is again my fate.
This is the alternate universe and “Wisconsin winter” version of Psalm 23. My apologies if any Christian friends are offended, but January especially felt like walking “through the valley of the shadow of death.” It was that cold during the month. When it’s 10F (-12C) with a 20 mph wind, I don’t go for walks and I prefer to enjoy the beauty of a snow-filled outside from the heated inside. Yet, it tends to invoke a case of cabin fever and dry, itchy skin. Know what I mean?
If you prefer the righted version of Psalm 23, you can check out a post I wrote in September, 2019, after a bicycle trip to Minnesota. Click HERE.
Have a warm and wonderful Monday!
Mary J Melange 
I like this version, Mary. I find no offense. You have beautifully adapted this lovely psalm to the cold reality of life In Wisconsin. January was very cold here, and February has started out with low lows, but some warm days. Hang on to that comforter, and have a good week.
I’m hanging on, Dan! Our temps this week are supposed to be warmer, so perhaps I’ll get out for a few walks in the neighborhood. Fresh air always makes me feel better. Have a most excellent Monday!
I was planning to walk this morning (in the 20s) but it’s snowing.
Enjoy the snow through your windows and with another cup of coffee.
We are currently at a balmy 27F! I can however relate to this psalm. We’ve been in double negative digits before and I’m guessing we will be again before February is over. I find January to be just the run up to Feb-brute-ary. I hope you stay warm and avoid the ice (which with the recent “thaw” is lurking under a thin layer of snow here)!
Lol – Feb-brute-ary! It’s exactly what it is! Sadly, I had an ice incident on Friday when I was out for a walk. It was lurking and when my feet came in contact, they left me and I landed flat on my back. I’m okay, but have had a few days of waning soreness and now own a pair of Yaktrax.
I enjoyed this poem. The month of January always feels like a walk through death.
I hope we rise a little from winter’s grave this month. At this point, I’d rather suffer the snow than the frigid cold.
i uncerstand completely. I long for a warm day.
Great post, very evocative, I think we all felt like we were there with you through the chill. Thankfully it’s not too often we get extreme weather like that here in the UK.
Brrr…..
KL ❤
Thank you! Moderate winters are much more tolerable to get through. Back in 2014, we had an awful polar vortex winter…one in which I was praying for a high of 20F (-7C) because we were constantly in frigid temps. Never do I want to experience that again!
“I shall dwell in the house of new beginnings”. This is brilliant! It is so perfect for the season. I too love the look of winter from the inside out. Wrapped around a hot cup of tea, nestled beside a roaring fire. Perfect.
Thank you so much, Pam. Spring is always a new beginning. I can’t wait to smell earth and grass again. Until then, I’ll join you with a hot liquid and warm socks.
“He lures me outside in evil deceit”
So true, but someone has to walk down to the street to gather the garbage toters and bring them back to the house. I worry about deceitful black ice every Monday in the winter.
Oh, be careful Ally. I have a connected garage to my apartment, so I don’t have to tote anything, but it’s still dangerous if I want to walk the neighborhood. Black ice is the worst!
I am wishing you a Psalm of Spring, Mary, and very soon!
Thanks Cheryl! An early spring would be so nice. 🙂
If only winter went by as fast as summer does.
Right, Judy. That would be awesome.
Hope winter leaves way for summer soon. Beautifully written, Mary.
Thank you, Damyanti! We have many weeks to go for summer, but with March comes the promise of spring and a change in the weather. Or so we hope!