January Morning Moon after a Frigid Night

“That night, you turn in your bed
to watch the moon rise, and once more
see what a small coin it is
against the darkness, and how everything else
is a mystery, and you know
nothing at all except
the moonlight is beautiful –
white rivers running together
along the bare boughs of the trees –
and somewhere, for someone, life
is becoming moment by moment
unbearable.”~Mary Oliver from ”Twelve Moons,” 1979
Friends, I haven’t had the inspiration or will to post a blog I wrote this week. The CA fires, the stressful political situation, and now extreme cold and wind leave me drained. I don’t forget my life is easy and peaceful compared to most. I have food, water, hot tea, and warm blankets, but my health struggles in this cold. Still, I send you love and a Mary Oliver poem written after the loss of her friend.
May all be well in our challenging world, including our stressed bodies and minds. May there be calm and peace. I took the moon photo this morning and saw the first Mourning Dove of the season a week ago before it turned so very cold in the Finger Lakes of NY.
January 25, 2025 at 6:13 am
Aladin Fazel
Oh, my dear Elaine. You speak from my heart! I am so pleased that you are safe and well. I’m also somewhat speechless and have taken a long break due to my surgery and lack of energy. Nevertheless, you shared a lovely picture of the moon and a beautiful poem by Mary Oliver, and I may learn from you and write a short post with a meaningful message. Stay blessed and safe.
January 25, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Elaine Mansfield
I am safe, Aladin, but not as well as I want to be–and many I know feel that way, partly because of age and partly because of the stress of these times. I am far from the big fires, but grieve for the forests and friends breathing polluted air. We have a mess in my country and it’s hard to know how to keep inner peace. The best thing is not to read much news. When the pendulum swings the other direction, which it will, I’ll be involved. For now, I meditate.
I’m glad your surgery is over and it’s not surprising that you lack energy. I can only come up with short posts, but we’ll see what I do this week. Nature is not cooperating with beautiful planets in the sky and lovely sunsets, but there are many powerful poems and I needed to keep it simple. I wish you full healing and renewed energy and inner peace.
January 23, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Lauren Banner
If only you lived within walking distance. I really don’t like being so far away. It’s cold here too and I am battling turning away from the world and just getting lost in my art. I watched a video of Elizabeth Warren asking that we NOT do just that. That fear and overwhelm are what the GOP want, they want us to disengage . I get it, I understand we need to stay vigilant, keep fighting against greed and oligarchy. But can I? The question is still out there, today. I feel the one day at a time ness, is upon me. I love you and all you write.
January 24, 2025 at 11:00 am
Elaine Mansfield
I watch very little on the screen, but I do sit on my new exercise bike (it’s huge!) and watch the birds out the windows. I know we can’t entirely disengage. This is our country, but I need to be less engaged than I am at the moment and less emotional about what’s happening. At some point there will be something I can do, but there is nothing now except to meditate and watch the birds. Maybe meditation is the most important thing. I only need food for me and bird seed for my beautiful feathered friends who accompany me. I want to feel the inspiration to write more, but don’t have the passion. I enjoy reading Robin Kimmerer’s newest book ‘The Serviceberry.’ You will like it, too. (Library? A place that practices an economy of exchange!) Her indigenous roots are strong in discussing an economy of giving, serving, and exchange. I miss you, Lauren, but I’m glad you love NM and your life there. I loved the photo of us with newborn Mia. Did they take that photo at the hospital? I don’t remember. Love, friendship, and a trusting heart.
January 23, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Lin Gregory
A beautiful picture of Mother Moon and your first Mourning Dove – two signs of hope in the darkness of these days. I try to console myself that where there’s darkness there has to be light and I know the light time will return. I like the idea of a ‘Creative Resistance’ movement – just to immerse in creativity and nature – not to bury my head in the sand but not to ‘doomscroll’ every bit of news. That together with shelter, good food and warmth is all I need in these times.
I’m sorry that you can’t get out much to get nature’s uplift but the exercise bike sounds like the perfect way to watch the wildlife and boost your health, fitness and mood. We bought one in November and I know for me that it makes me feel so good, physically and mentally, to sit and cycle on ours, whilst watching a video cycling through my favourite routes in the Lake District seeing all the Fells and woodland. It’s the little things…Keep well Elaine and sending much love and light.
January 24, 2025 at 10:44 am
Elaine Mansfield
In general, I’ve been avoiding news, but this morning I looked at the Guardian–and that was a mistake. It’s a good paper, but the news from my country gets more agitating and upsetting. So much anger and cruelty. It’s better to look the other way. I’m back to not looking until there’s a clear way to be involved with change. Sigh… It’s beautiful out my windows and birds of various kinds are at the feeders. These happy feathered ones don’t know about human news. The morning moon has been gorgeous watching over our human lunacy. I’ll slowly relax into the new reality of this world–and I’ll be more vigilent about what I read and watch. These are hard times.
Sending love across the gorgeous oaks and the maples that must be filling with spring sap. I’ll be glad when it warms up and I’m off this exercise bike and back on the earth.
January 22, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Anne
Dear Elaine, I just wanted to chime in with gratitude for your sharing and wishes for your warmth and well-being. I have been out of touch as my husband and I have been struggling with significant health challenges since the fall, and the chaotic political situation is enough to make us all ill. Still, as you remind us, there is solace in nature and community. Sending love, Anne
January 23, 2025 at 11:43 am
Elaine Mansfield
Dear Anne,
I’m sorry to hear of the health problems you and your husband are navigating. When our health is a constant struggle, everything is harder. My dad came back from WWII with kidney disease. His mantra was, “If you have your health, you have everything.” That was truer than I knew when I was young. I wish you and all of us could live in a peaceful healing world. I don’t understand the joy of having so much more than one needs to live and leaving others cold and hungry. That attitude stuns me. It is very cold here, but the air is clear. Disco and I keep each other warm and my sons and I check in on each other. Friends and I wait to see what will happen next. Sending you and your husband love and a healing body. May we all survive the storm.
January 22, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Jan Maltzan
Dear Elaine, the title, The Winter of Our Discontent has been coming to mind these last few weeks. So many things are simply difficult right now and I’m left with the need to float just a few a few inches above the multitude of challenges facing us, the world, right now. Taking a peek down and lowering one foot to the ground, touching one finger to it for a moment and then retreating upward. Knowing I can’t deny reality but also feeling like I can’t stay wholly preset in it for too long at one time. I’m telling myself to breath, and acknowledge that I will need Time to adjust, adapt, accommodate, acclimate to the cold (which will pass) and to the cold heartedness which I fear will take longer to pass. So I’m turning to art, music, poetry and nature. I love the Mary Oliver poem! It is one I’m not familiar with at all and it’s perfect for our present condition. Keep yourself safe and warm and enjoy the views from your windows.
January 23, 2025 at 11:25 am
Elaine Mansfield
Jan, my approach is much like yours although I’m not good at floating. I keep the house cozy warm and hug my dog a lot. I also check in on friends, but I’m not well enough to cook them big pots of soup like I did in the past. It’s harder to hold detachment with friends with young grandchildren breathing the toxic air of CA, but I can only watch from afar and pray for them. I rarely read news other than local stories. If there were something I could do about the national situation, I would, but reading and fretting helps no one. I’m finding better ways to help migrating people who have no family here and are left without support in a cold world.
So I read (poetry and also the book ‘The Serviceberry’ by Robin Kimmerer). I use my exercise bike while I watch the birds and stay in touch with my sons. I have another book in my queue called ‘Third Ear.’ I hope it will give me a different slant on increasing deafness and vertigo that varies in intensity with the changing weather. I am safe and warm and the world is still beautiful, but I think we all need time to adjust and see where all this lands. I expect intense change to continue for a while. I hope the hearts of those in power will warm and soften. It’s hard for me to imagine living a life with such a brittle hard heart. May you and all of us find moments of beauty and joy.
January 22, 2025 at 11:40 am
Deborah Gregory
Dear Elaine,
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt words, beautiful photo and Mary’s reflective poem. In your words, I sense the weight of recent events and the biting cold that has left you feeling drained. If pausing your blog helps you take care of yourself, so be it.
Your reflections on finding solace in nature and the beauty of Mother Moon and the sighting of the first Mourning Dove inspire me. May you find peace and calm amidst the chaos and may beautiful moonlight guide you through these challenging times.
Sending you much love, light and warmth across the oceans and oak tops between us, Deborah.
January 22, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Elaine Mansfield
Dearest Deborah,
My feelings (fears?) seems to be universal in my community. It’s a good time to live in NY State. Much of the country turned bitter cold which is symbolically interesting. This morning was sunny and 5 degrees F. Disco dutifully goes outside and then runs back in to be near the woodstove.
Yes, I’m drained. I had written another more cheerful blog but decided to share my true feelings best expressed by Mary Oliver’s grief. I bought an indoor exercise bike because I’m turning into a couch potato and it’s too cold to exercise outside with asthmatic breathing. My son set it up near a window so I can watch the birds while I pedal.
Many trees were damaged in recent wind storms but that’s to be expected. It still makes me sad, but young trees will have more light.
Sending love, light, and warmth to you across the ocean and over the tree tops. It will be warmer when I see your coming book ‘Croneology’ in early February. I can’t wait.
January 23, 2025 at 8:02 am
Deborah Gregory
Elaine, we brought an exercise bike too at the end of November for exactly the same reasons. It’s bitterly cold here in the UK and walking outside during winter storms is very unpleasant and not good for Lin either as she has her own respiratory issues. Oh, I love that your bike in set up near a window so you can watch your feathered friends. Yes, just over a week to go before ‘Croneology’ is released! In the meantime I’m hoping to share a short story I’ve been writing this week. Maybe tomorrow, if I finish in time.
January 23, 2025 at 11:47 am
Elaine Mansfield
I look forward to your story. Your dreams have been amazing while my dreams are mundane and practical these days. I still write them down and they are meaningful in their own grounded way. May there be peace and warmth in this world. Sending love and hope to you and Lin. Warm clean air and deep breaths and love, Elaine
January 22, 2025 at 10:48 am
Marian Beaman
I like the images you included in this post: moon, mourning dove, and Mary Oliver, a favorite. Also, I latched on to this line: “I don’t forget my life is easy and peaceful compared to most.” Stay warm and know that we are shivering in Florida too!
January 22, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Elaine Mansfield
Marian, it seems the whole country is shivering for one reason or another, be it weather or politics. I hope you are well and it’s warmer than it is here. It’s been fierce, but Disco loves to snuggle and I have warm blankets.
January 22, 2025 at 1:59 pm
Marian Beaman
Thanks for the good wishes, Elaine. Temps here are in the 30s and 40s, but I’m staying warm as I recover from a broken hand.
January 23, 2025 at 11:03 am
Elaine Mansfield
I imagine Cliff making you hot tea. I’m glad you’re warm. The weather remains fierce here.
January 22, 2025 at 6:48 am
Robin Botie
Good morning, Elaine. I’m wishing you warmth and health and happiness in these crazy times. And peace. Especially peace. Cheers from your old friend Robin.
January 22, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Elaine Mansfield
Especially peace, Robin. Thank you. It’s nice to hear from you. This morning I felt so lost and quoted David Wagoner’s poem “Lost” to someone. That poem always reminds me of you. “The trees know where we are.” May you have warmth and support to get through these challenging times. Sending love.
January 21, 2025 at 8:38 pm
Catherine Shipos
Stay warm and be well, my friend!
January 22, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Elaine Mansfield
Thank you, Cathy. My house is cool by morning, but I have warm blankets and my dog sharing her heat with me all night. It’s challenging weather (political and otherwise) for everyone. Love, Elaine