We get used to winter’s gray lid
when sunlight becomes a memory,
color fading into the mash of leaves
on wet streets and sidewalks,
the ceiling of our expectations
coming down like rain.
Standing still we’re old growth trees,
catching mist in our moss covered branches,
roots shot through with years of silence,
falling into winter’s sleep
to grow the many songs of spring.
Wonderful, haunting images fraught with promise……
Nature speaks in cycles of stillness that gradually moves toward brilliance. Wonderful to understand the cycles of our lives. Beautiful, as always, Don! Thank you.
Love your work, Don — but yesterday I pruned back one of the hibiscus bushes on our balcony, while the other two are blooming like crazy. Our Meyer lemon bush gave us eight big lemons, with more on the way.
Seriously, I do feel the cycle of winter, too, just that there’s so little external confirmation of it here in southern Florida except the shorter days.
Lovely. A Solstice energy already starting to move…
Yes, the autumn leaves lie dormant and it seems easier to enjoy the inward silence as new growth internally pushes forward into awareness . I love these seasons and poignant way in which your images awaken something in me.
When I read this I hear music.
You are such a wonderful wordsmith my friend, thank you for this!
I no longer fear
November, for I see now:
my garden but sleeps
Excellent.
perfection
beautiful, tender, strong & true
poetic mastery, Don
with love & appreciation
for the generosity of your freely given Word
A lovely poem, stillness in its tone. Thanks, Don, as always.
Wonderfully poignant, Brother… in the best emotional sense of the word.
This is an instant favorite of mine because it is so moody and visual. I’d like to make a video to go with it–any chance you could e-mail me an audio recording of it? The audio note app (in your Utilities folder) on your iPhone works great, or any mp3 e-mailed to sandybrownjensen@gmail.com would work (just not emailed inside the gates of my lane email).
Love from Sandy
(p
PS shared with social media
To honor the rhythms of our fall into winter dance .. is reflected through an internal longing for the stillness and peace that comes with winter. Your choreography in describing this transition is stunning!
The winding, climbing roads to my favorite places are slowly closing with drifting snow unbuck-able with the hardiest vehicle. Winter is here, where I am. But, the beauty of Big Sky only changes–never diminished.