Winter Poets: Ohio to Pennsylvania

Katina Woodruff Borgersen
Newark, Ohio

Bewildering ice-sickles reflecting, minus four degrees, a chance of thunder.
Slick are the walkways that lead to the future destination, Ohio a place for all.
Weeks without the light that once shone through the window stained-glass.
Patiently waiting on the pipes to unthaw, batteries, flashlights, extra food.

Matthew Harris
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania

• Bright sun warms inside car revitalizing frozen, albeit lovely bones.
• Cats and dogs lazily sprawl out filling selective patches of sunlight inside houses.
• Snow plows barrel thru temporarily impassable inaccessible residential streets creating mounds resembling igloos.  
• Swarms of avid novice skiers descend upon Spring Mount.

Katina,

Lush green elevations, in a mathematical pattern, align with stars that light the path home.
The Great Circle Earthworks, “measured at 1,054 feet by 1,058 feet,” (1).
The Octagon Earthworks consisting of, a 34-acre Octagon Mound (2).
Sacred Mounds - built by the, “Hopewell culture between 100 CE and 500 CE,” (3).

Matthew,

• Booming construction (i.e. vinyl city) overlay once uninterrupted farmland.
• Slick hilly narrow roads wind their way into isolated sparse enclaves.
• Schwenksville residents comfortably nestled within cookie cutter dwellings.
• Southeastern Montgomery County Pennsylvania generally receives smattering sparse snowfalls, but enough to delay public/parochial schools.

Katina,

Shallow caves once inhabited by grey wolves, almost extinct in these parts, now coyote’s bark.
At the Licking River’s edge, photographing a flock of bald eagles soaring high above the pines.
Crimson red Cardinals perched within thick raspberry bushes, learning how to fly.
Non-native singing starlings compete for food with boisterous blue Jays, two perched barred owls.

Matthew, 

• Canadian Geese honk overhead flying south courtesy instinctual built in global positioning satellite.
• White tailed deer (vector for Lyme disease) forage at wood's edge.
• Unlucky doe (bros) gallivanting carrion feast, which carcass of former pose challenge for fretful drivers plucky enough to avoid mishap.
• Gray squirrels hither and yon, to and from across route 29, the only thoroughfare thru Schwenksville. 

Katina,

Cold to the bone, shaking, wearing a worn-out suede coat, walking along the snow-covered path.
Listening to the birds, welcoming new arrivals, wishing for spring, yet loving the day with nature.
Creaking joints, a little pain, hot chocolate, good strong coffee, two handmade scarfs, from a friend.
Family time, Thanksgiving, Christmas (I had to skip), grieving losses, anticipating future with words.

Matthew,

• Useless fingers of frostbitten gnarled hands make feeble attempt to grasp fob and activate sliding doors to provide access into main lobby housing numerous apartment particularly B44.
• Cold temperature gnarled hands down buttress yours truly favoring to remain inside hermit(age), i.e. one bedroom rented apartment at Highland Manor.
• Cold wind howls giving banshee run for her/his money.
• Sequestered inside toasty unit b44 after HVAC technician replaced malfunctioning compressor, which ear splitting din intolerant, thus necessitating hoovering (think ufo) in close encounter with space heater.

Katina,

It was 2008, when I was attending college at the age of 35.
Shortly after trying to write a memoir, I dove into the Twilight Zone.
For many years, fear, panic, self-doubt, defined my human existence.
Ordinary winter days, in and out of depression & mania, dreams of publication remain.

Matthew,

• I evolved into a homebody over the last decade, essentially whiling away precious time meditating, exercising late at night, reading, writing, but no 'rithmetic, and perusing newsworthy websites courtesy Macbook Pro.
• Recent dabbling with writing poetry unwittingly, lovingly, and blessedly birthed an inspiring friendship with versatile Cosmofunnel contributor, whose ambience, ebullience, and radiance washes over me like brilliant sunshine. 
• The medium of words allow, enable, and provide means to  limn my intimate feelings, and thus share poignant emotions, ideas, and thoughts with fellow readers across the web. 
• adieu: Matthew Scott Harris.

________________
WORKS CITED
Online

(1). Hopewell Indian Culture, Newark - Ohio
https://hopewellindianculture.weebly.com/newark-ohio.html
Accessed January 9, 2020
measurements of 1,054 feet by 1,058 feet.

(2). Newark Advocate, Moundbuilders Country Club Plans – Appeal
https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/2019/05/13/moundbuilders-country-club-plans-appeal-ruling-octagon-mounds/1188321001/
Accessed January 9, 2020
134-acre Octagon Mounds 

(3). Wikipedia, Newark Earthworks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Earthworks
Accessed January 8, 2020
Hopewell culture between 100 CE and 500 CE

Additional References

News Maven, Newark American Indian Mounds The Eight Wonder of The World You Decide
https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/newark-american-indian-mounds-the-eighth-wonder-of-the-world-you-decide-Cg1Q76Z1cEmOmewAVNv2Ig
Accessed January 9, 2020

Ohio History, Newark - Earthworks
https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/newark-earthworks
Accessed January 9, 2020

Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
Early and middle Woodland Period
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/archaeology/native-american/early-middle-woodland-period.html
Accessed January 9, 2020