Breakup Ephemera
Breakup in Alaska occurs when the temperatures rise and ice-bound rivers and lakes began to break apart. Water begins to flow. When we lived along the Yentna River I recall standing outside listening to the sounds of breakup: icicles dripping from eaves, soft snow sloughing from spruce boughs, slabs of ice groaning and grinding, and the sound of ice crashing against ice. The entire river carried the sound of spring in its cold current. That sound of ice breaking free always reminded me of a vast dinner party – of china cups settling onto china saucers, of ice sloshing in tall glasses, and of thousands of pieces of silverware striking cup rims and dinner plates.