A Lingering Winter
Estranged – within a wilderness of winter,
Pacing through a snow drift waste forlorn,
Alone, but with the clinging ghosts of sorrow,
Of contumely and sadness and of scorn,
Cruelty is the sharpest barb of heartache–
A painful spear, thrust long and twisted deep,
Praying to my fathers up in heaven,
For solace sent from in their hallowed keep…
My fortitude now spent and sore depleted,
A two day march across the snow capped hills,
The valley strewn with hickory and red oak,
Past black-eyed Susan set in yellow frills,
A turbulence in body, mind and spirit,
Reeling senses in a sea of white,
A midnight camp among the dogwood arching,
The short leaf pine set tall against the night,
Along the winding valley road from Ava,
Down behind the Dickson’s sprawling farms,
Snow cold feet, in dampness and sore blistered,
Nettle strings caught on my flapping arms,
A family of strangers – sent to haunt me,
Callous words, encircling like a mist,
Playing on repeat within my bosom,
Squalling winds of madness that persist,
Still I have the beasts of this here region–
The white tailed deer and bobcat’s feral cry,
The river otter playing in the sunlight,
The wood thrush sent to sing my lullaby,
The coyote howling out on yonder canyon,
The pacing armadillo walking slow,
The mighty elk, in regal stature standing,
The black bear in the sun’s almighty glow,
The red tailed hawk that rides the ridge in circles,
The heron pacing down by Hunter Creek,
The Carolina wrens with red-brown plumage,
The mallard and the merlin flying sleek,
Flowers that arrest me with their splendour,
Violet hues that catch against the snow,
Fanning petals set on stamen faces,
Watching me with interest as I go,
Daffodils and crocuses of orange,
Hyacinths in red and purple garb,
Magnolias and pansies like a daydream,
The royal catchfly coloured like rhubarb,
Home again and back unto my cabin,
A softly spoken winter this, but long,
The hearth, the flaming heart of my existence,
The crackling fire – a paradisic song!
AD Lovkis, 13/07/25
adamdaniel 