Special Feature: "The Ice Gnomes" by the Editor

The Ice Gnomes

Steven Wittenberg Gordon

Their hidden world is cold and crystal-lined

and powder of the purest white is heaped

in places into dune-drifts by the wind

invisible and in old magic steeped

an ocean though unseen apparent e’er

due to its sculpting of their world so fair.

There dwell the ice gnomes with their hoarfrost manes   

and eyes of glacial water piercing cold

who fashion castles of ice windowpanes

with spires of snowflakes woven with white gold

that swim within the sea of icy air

the light of sun and moon refracting there:

Auroras burst and rainbows blossom bright

as colors flood their world of frozen white.

Poet's Notes:  Sometimes structures occur naturally that appear to be manmade, or made by some intelligent design.  It is fun to fantasize that perhaps the sidhe, gnomes, or fairies are the creators of these fascinating phenomena.