I never know what will catch my eye when I am out with my camera. On Monday I was struck by the way that the tide had piled up ice on the shoreline at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge—the pieces of ice looked like shards of broken window panes. There was an abstract beauty in the ice fragments that is hard to put into words.
Despite the beauty, my mind kept drifting to metaphorical thoughts as I gazed at the ice. The ongoing pandemic continues to shatter our lives, and the ice seemed to represent some of our hopes that have been dashed, our dreams deferred, and our futures foregone. With the passage of time, the sharp edges will eventually disappear and the ice will melt, bringing together again the broken pieces of our lives.
In the meantime, we should strive to be gentle with each other, never knowing for sure how fragmented and fragile the others may feel, despite their outward appearances of coping well.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
What amazing photos! Looks like nature intended and created an art exhibition. And I love your metaphor……..very comforting. Thank you.
Thanks, Ann. I had no idea that I would take my posting this morning in that direction, but that was where my heart and mind was when I sat down to write it.
Lovely photos, and timely thoughts, Mike. I always enjoy seeing ice. It’s a confirmation of winter, but I like the way you extended it into life.
Thanks, Dan. I could just post my photos with only superficial commentary, but sometimes I feel pushed to go way beyond them to reveal some of my deeper thoughts, concerns, and emotions.
I always enjoy those posts, Mike.
Me too🙂
Beautiful photos and beautiful thoughts, Mike!
Lovely thoughts to go with your images, Mike. Hope, indeed, always springs eternal. Blessings to you this day.
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
Wow to both your insightful and inspiring message and the photos.
You can make everything in nature look…magical Mike. Amazing photography. Inspiring words. Thank You.!
How did some of the pieces of ice come to be so square ? Curious an curiouser. Nature does some unusual things.
I have no idea how the angles got to be so square. That location gets a significant amount of tidal pull from the Potomac River and somehow the pressures came went to form the ice pieces. The day that I was there, parts of the bay were frozen over, though there were some open areas where the ducks and geese were able to swim about.
I second every comment above….wow!
Very well said, Mike and a striking photograph.
Thanks, Chris.
Poetic truth, Mike. ❤
Thanks, Eliza. It’s interesting that you used the word “poetic,” because I had that same feeling as I was writing it.
Very “cool” ice images Mike!
🙂