HER POETRY Goddess The Pine Cone

BY JANET KURTZ

Away in the deep dark of winter, in the woods of Scotch pine and spruce, cold winds blow over the frozen grounds strewn with red-needled carpets and freshly falling snow.

Tiny mice tracks, leaping squirrel prints and jumping snow-shoe rabbits leave patterned trails for the noses of fox and coyotes. Under these snow-weighted boughs and above these paw prints, one closes in on the lair of the Pine Cone goddess.

Few have actually glimpsed this maiden of the north, with her snowball curls, tumbling over her shoulders. Her tresses nearly reach the pine sprig trim on the hips of her crystal, sparkling snow gown.

Her statuesque white marble neck is circled with pine cone jewels and acorn pearls. Some venerate her by gathering new offerings for the altar of winter to come. Skates, snowmobiles, skis, deep-tread tires, all trinkets of the season. Winter worshipers sip sacred hot cocoa and pray for snow or school cancellations.

There are those who do not revere the Pine Cone goddess and winter worship. They cringe at weather reports that include wind chills. They can be recognized by their posture. They are the hunched-over ones, shoulders stretching to reach and warm their ears, backs turned to the incoming winds.

Under their breath, you can hear them chanting: “Me-xi-co, Ari-zo-na, Ca-li-for-nia”

To these non-winter converts, she puckers up her frosty lips in a coquettish pout and purrs: “Min-ne-so-ta, Wis-con-sin, Up-per Mi-chi-gan.”

Everyone will get their day. The hunched-over will again stand straight. The frost-bitten will also rise again for winter carnivals and ice palaces. The Pine Cone goddess will trickle off into the Scotch Piney woods each spring, But, ‘tis now we must keep the Pine Cone goddess going — every time it snows.

Her Story

Leah X Rathe at the 2024 Snake Alley Festival of Film in Burlington, Iowa, being interviewed for the Bret & Tony with Ash & Abe Podcast about her films “CHOPSTICK” and “The Accelerators: Brains, Braids, & Bots.” Photo by Mitch McCallson.