She said her name was Winter

Gold cherry
Pick of the Month

By Jane Hyphen

Mon, 23 Jan 2023
  • 2705 reads
15 comments
 

 

After the party, I marked her

Just as the colours drained

In her gelid crystal necklace

Blowing out the lights

And hushing the wild creatures

She was darker than the others

Much crueler when she snapped

But her stars were so much brighter

She made me feel like they were mine

 

I watched her stretching shadows

Holding down the night

I dared to ask her name

As I told her, nothing grows here

Except the pile of ashes

The ever deepening desires

And the tiny silver tears

Who looked to her and nodded

As she said her name was Winter

 

I’ve grown old in this house

And so listless since she came

But I saw that she was fading now

So I asked to touch her crystals

And they melted in my hand

Then the days dilated

And the birds no longer hid

‘Don’t wait for me,’ she whispered,

‘I’ll catch you anyway.’

In her place a bud burst

And a start of little flowers

 

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

winters indeed, but all seasons pass in the tow of another. 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you. It feels like winter too, just when people are cutting energy consumption. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

So many gorgeous lines, elusive and powerful, Jane Hyphen's poem evokes this time just before Spring. It is Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please do share and retweet if you can

Jane, please change the photo if you want

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you for pick of the day and for the photo. Spring is just around the corner. I even heard a woodpecker today but it's so cold.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Then the days dilated

And the birds no longer hid

‘Don’t wait for me,’ she whispered,

‘I’ll catch you anyway.’

In her place a bud burst

And a start of little flowers

What a beautiful way of putting it! This year especially it seems to be a very long time coming, but the days at least are beginning to dilate

You are really on a roll with your poetry at the moment Jane - keep going - and congratulations on the golden cherries - great pick!

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Insert, dilating days will lift our spirits, despite the frigid temperatures. Thank you for reading and your lovely comment. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I had to look up 'gelid'  The last two lines were just as it happens with the sight taking us by surprise. January seems very dried up, sere, despite all the moisture underfoot, but the cloudscapes can be very beautfiul. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Rhiannon, thank you for reading and commenting. Beautiful sunshine in the middle of the day. The frost stops moisture from being available to plants so it does feel dried up. It amazes me how tough our wildlife is, especially the birds.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Taking the dog early this morning I heard bird song. The first time I noticed the embryonic dawn chorus of these little hearts staking their claims for the breeding season.

So nice of you to remind us Spring is stirring from her sleep.

ThanX

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks for your comment Ed. There is a sense of spring on it's way, bulbs pushing their green shoots up through the soil. My little whippet was shivering, despite his jacket, we had a lovely walk though and the birds were busy, they had something on their minds as you said.

 

Submitted by marandina on

"I watched her stretching shadows.." Beautiful metaphors and images. Just wonderful, Jane 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Paul, thanks for reading and commenting. Winter is a bad bitch.smiley

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Month - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

Such beautiful phrases -  thoroughly enjoyed your poem. You certainly earned the accolades.

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks you so much Richard.