come winter

I was inspired to write this poem in February 2014 when I lived in North Hatley, Quebec. At the time, I wanted to get lost in a winter storm, to be found on a crisp, cold day and to feel winter wrap itself around me.

This poem is about that.

Thanks to Geneviève Vivian, Almonte-based photographer, for the use of her image, which I have “treated” in photoshop. See  Geneviève’s beautiful portraiture photography here.

come winter

by punkie ©2014 2021

Click on the audio player if you would like to hear me read the poem:

come winter

spring, summer, and fall
come and go:
birth, life and surrender
like preludes to your eternity,
colourful crazy quilts
to your thick white blankets,
seasonal experiments
before you settle in.

firewood stacked
three cords deep
awaits your arrival;
like the seasons before you,
it will go up in smoke
leaving feather-like ash
to mark its passing.

you may come sooner or later:
storms before Thanksgiving
herald your eagerness one year,
green grass at Christmas
regrets your tardiness the next.
but your timing
is inevitable
if not impeccable.

i love your tempestuous nature:
soft, fluffy and silent,
blustery, raging, and vengeful,
crisp, cold, and clear —
each dimension in its turn
or out of it
in a random roll
of weathered dice.

i will drape you
around me winter,
like a down duvet
on sub-zero nights.

take my hand,
kiss my frosty cheek,
lead me into your bitter cold.

come to me winter
with your frozen fingers
and icy intent.
snow me under
quietly or subdue me
with a savage blow.
make me yours winter
before spring once again
beckons me to be reborn.

© 2021 Susan Macaulay. I invite you to share my poetry and posts widely, but please do not reprint, reblog or copy and paste them in their entirety without my permission. Thank you.

come winter

come winter

angels angels everywhere