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Friday, October 18, 2013

Messages In Ice

Mendenhall in winter, 
frozen Mendenhall Lake in foreground
creative commons attribution - share 

As your icefields melt,
an ancient forest
is revealed,
voices from
another time.


Ice Forest by Abby Lowell, Juneau Empire

I googled the glacier, and discovered the retreating ice has bared the remains of an ancient forest, tree remains between one and two thousand years old, now being exposed to the air for the first time since  the advancing glacier swallowed them up. Wow.

 The short poem above is all that came, after which I was speechless, so in awe I couldnt think of another word.

 posted for Hannah's prompt at Real Toads -  Hungry and Haunted: The Mendenhall Ice Caves

 Do check the links at Toads. There should be some intriguing responses!

sources:

 http://frontierscientists.com/2013/09/forest-revealed-under-glacial-ice/

 http://juneauempire.com/outdoors/2013-09-13/ancient-trees-emerge-frozen-forest-tomb#.UmFx73CsjlM
at

24 comments:

  1. SusanOctober 18, 2013 at 11:08 AM

    Wow. Haiku-ish.

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  2. Vandana SharmaOctober 18, 2013 at 11:11 AM

    merging of two worlds inside the glaciers:)

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  3. MarianOctober 18, 2013 at 11:25 AM

    wow, wow. exactly enough, Sherry.

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  4. Kerry O'ConnorOctober 18, 2013 at 12:13 PM

    Is this another result of global warming, I wonder, which leaves the ancient trees exposed?

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  5. Siggi in Downeast MaineOctober 18, 2013 at 12:24 PM

    Excellent...enjoyed the post.
    Peace
    Siggi

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  6. GraceOctober 18, 2013 at 12:27 PM

    An ancient forest exposed due to climate changes ~ How interesting to see but also brings forth the message that we need to better care for our environment ~ Good one Sherry ~

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  7. AnonymousOctober 18, 2013 at 1:35 PM

    Sherri - have you seen this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3VTgIPoGU

    awesome and frightening

    your write is pitch perfect

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  8. revelationsOctober 18, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    you hit the mark....

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  9. Susie ClevengerOctober 18, 2013 at 2:02 PM

    Love the wonder in such few words...and the haunting effect also

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  10. KarenOctober 18, 2013 at 4:16 PM

    So much revealed here in so few words, Sherry. This inspires many emotions in me...awe and fear and wonder, among them. It also raises all kinds of questions. Really like this!

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  11. MargaretOctober 18, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    Interesting video Grapeling linked. I would love to read what the scientists find... Wonder if there is a website link for that?

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  12. HelenOctober 18, 2013 at 5:27 PM

    The other side of the global warming coin .... So right, the back story you uncovered is fascinating!

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  13. Kay L. DaviesOctober 18, 2013 at 6:15 PM

    Fantastic, Sherry, for a tree-hugger like you to write about an ancient forest preserved in ice— serendipitous. Love your poem.
    Luv, K

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  14. AnonymousOctober 18, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    Your words are exactly right.

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  15. CloudiaOctober 18, 2013 at 8:58 PM

    Wow!
    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    =^..^= <3

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  16. MaryOctober 18, 2013 at 11:16 PM

    I agree with those who said WOW. How very amazing, Sherry.

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  17. SreejaOctober 19, 2013 at 2:50 AM

    excellent.....kind of magical touch....

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  18. Brian MillerOctober 19, 2013 at 5:02 AM

    very nice....tight verse...and so true the life that lives under the ice when we let it melt.

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  19. UnknownOctober 19, 2013 at 8:49 AM

    It is really cool whats the receding glacier are revealing. I worked near the Alaska Panhandle and every year the glacier you recede about a meter and show high grade gold and copper. That was in 1991 - since then i lost track but I'm sure someones been watching.

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  20. EllaOctober 19, 2013 at 9:48 AM

    It is wow! You added your Mary Oliver magic~
    :D

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  21. HannahOctober 19, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    And the brevity is perfect, Sherry...just absolutely perfect...voices from another time indeed as I believe that trees do have voices. This is wonderful, thank you so much for sharing and writing form your heart!

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  22. AnonymousOctober 19, 2013 at 8:31 PM

    What an excellent comment on the "global warming that isn't," according to some naive/heads in the sand people. Also, the stripping away of the ice to reveal the broken tree mirrors our broken values as the ice melts from our planet... BRILL. Amy

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  23. Mystic_MomOctober 20, 2013 at 6:44 PM

    Totally cool!

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  24. OutlawyerOctober 28, 2013 at 5:30 AM

    Very cool-- i was in the Himalayas a few years ago and the glaciers have a black layer of soot on them. Terrible and speeds melting. Like your video the other day-- makes one feel sick as these places are -- As your poem points out-- so awe inspiring . K or manicddaily.

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