Warmth in Winter
Lay a blanket down and settle against the hill
To take in the blueness of the sky
Open a bottle of wine to celebrate
The fresh scent of pine on the air
Cool and soothing against the cheek
Like the memory of a kiss.
The whisper of a pleasant breeze in the trees is interrupted…
In the distance that lonely freight train from nowhere
passes slowly on its way to anywhere else.
Mournfully calling out, it exists inside a Johnny Cash song,
And knows full well you won’t follow along this time.
Anywhere else is a dream of swirling snow
Where overstuffed coats are pulled tight against near-frozen bodies.
Nowhere is a place you’ve been with tears in your eyes
Tears you shouldn’t be willing to shed
When they turn to droplets of cruel ice on tender skin.
You should smile at the warmth instead
Put your faith in the here and now
Throw rocks in the stream
Touch the warm golden light from the evening sun
And dance with the pleasure of life.
How lush life can be,
How calm it is
Where the green grass beckons
And flowers bloom against the odds
in mid-winter.
gingatao! said,
February 10, 2008 at 6:07 am
Goegeously beautiful. Starts with a warmth and bliss gets cold and lonely but the contrast only serves to make the ending more divine, how lush life can be, how calm it is, your poem is itself one of beauties in which it rejoices,
Narnie said,
February 13, 2008 at 10:15 am
such contentment… how wonderful. This comes alive with colour and movement, but most importantly emotions of dancing barefoot in the grass. Perfect. I love it Mimi.
Soulless said,
February 15, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I loved the lines about “anywhere else” and “nowhere” — lines which render depth of meaning to “that lonely freight train from nowhere passes slowly on its way to anywhere else”. Makes me want to sing.
Thank you.
Paul said,
June 25, 2008 at 11:50 pm
hellooooo, Mimi. I miss you and your beautiful writing. Hope everything is going well, smoothly like the night sky and sparkley too.