Ice Aged

Child, child what is your care,

raised from the cradle in a cavern of Bears?

Yet, you sleep, as Bears will

when snow is a blanket, birdsong stilled

in winter's cold shoulder.

Girl, girl, what is your care,

chaste at your girdle within warm lair?

Yet, you sleep, as fair will

when youth is a blanket, dreams unfullfilled

in winter's cold shoulder.

Woman, woman, what is your care,

child at your breast, and lover so rare?

Yet, you weep and whisper a prayer

when he is a blanket, all is his will

in winter's cold shoulder.

She roared a melt:

All these things were chosen for me,

shadows on walls, no sight of the real,

bound to the season, bound not to feel

in winter's cold shoulder.