Poems and prose for various contests over the course of the decade. |
I sit encased in a warm room looking out into the frosty evening. Patterns of frost ripple along the edges of the window pane As I watch the snow gently fall over the ground below. The crackle of a fire blazing behind me Contrasts with the fresh wash of white That has covered as far as the eye can see. This warmth settles me into a sloth-like lethargy That needs to be pierced by the crystal cold of the outside world. I don my parka and heavy boots, Wrap a scarf around my neck and head, Slide woolen mittens over my fingers And take to the street. It is glazed with an ice that seems both to reflect the road below And the gloomy sky above. Snow dances around me like a whirling dervish. I can see only a short distance ahead. It silences the world around me -- One that usually rings with constant chaos; Now silence reigns supreme. Not a soul ventures out into this deep freeze. I am alone in the world, But feel a certain peace One that pulls the fabric of time together; Binding the past with the present; Casting spells that enrich and preserve -- Time seems to stand still. In the park, the concrete jungle falls away; Lost behind the veil of heavy snowfall. Only the crunch of my feet over the packed snow Can be heard. I thank Mother Nature for this day. A day of rest in a weary world. Only those willing to see it Will fill themselves with its essence And its restorative power. Lines = 35. Notes ▼ |