Do you live somewhere that’s really cold in winter? Dr James R Carter is Professor Emeritus, Geography-Geology Department, Illinois State University. He studies beautiful ice formations in USA. In 2017, he gave us permission to share some of his rare photos to accompany a poem about Ice Flowers, written by primary school student Evie – which was also shared on the Australian Children’s Poetry website.
We are delighted to learn that Dr Jim Carter has now written his own poem, inspired by Dr Seuss! If you have any fantastic photos of ice flowers of this nature, you can contact Dr Carter at Illinois State University by email at jrcarter@ilstu.edu.
Ice Poetry by Jim Carter
Oh, it’s mighty cold today.
Why did the Lord make it this way?Hmmmm, the ground crunches when I walk by
So I bend down to find out why.Look at those needles shining so bright
Clear ice, glistening in the light.
But my nose reminds me what I must do
Dress right for a cold sky so blue.Properly attired, I set out to see
What other forms of ice there may be.Are those white flowers at the base of a little tree?
No, it’s ice on the stems of plants quite tall.
They had white flowers last fall.Wow, that ice presents a lovely face
And it’s only one of many in this place.
A wavy ball of ice nestled in brown.
Camera out, I kneel on the ground.How have I missed such ice for years?
As I marvel my eyes produce tears.Perhaps from their beauty
… but probably from the cold.Oh, there’s ice on what was a puddle.
In layers of perhaps two or three
With leaves underneath and some lying free.Another presentation of ice seldom seen
Gosh, nature is neat, even when it’s not green!