Winter Is Coming...

a poem

Born in a cradle of willow, 
a sliver of silver leaves 
spill sorrow along the rivers edge.

Yellow-as-our-bathroom-tiles sun
pushes the clouds apart
to wink like a gold tooth in a watery mouth.

Summer tosses apples over her shoulder
a basket full, the cornflower road 
a red/green Pollock, 

the wine of autumn’s coming.
Leaves turn brown like tea steeped teeth,
fall out in a bad dream.

Steel river cancers grey. 
That once blue bleeding sky
haemorrhages monotone.

Soon even the bright mushrooms
will keel over to chill, 
trees offer their fractal sketches.

Winter will open its playbook,
we’ll live on the surface of a cold moon
until even the frost is arthritic.

(the river Elbe near where I live.)

Autumn is well and truly here, the colours of the leaves are going us their last joyful flush before falling. Halloween, my wedding anniversary! Has passed with ghouls and witches lining the streets and our neighbours playing screams out into the chill night. The ultraviolet lights at odds with our single glowing pumpkin, our loving kisses.

I am thinking of my loved ones who have passed on, my mum, my uncles, my grandmother, friends. We hold hands across the thinned veil, our hearts smooth as pebbles, rolled in love for a lifetime.

A friend told me of how in the far north winter is seen as a time of introspection candles are lit morning and night with day light so brief. I remember a winter just after meeting my husband, I came down in the morning and found him with breakfast prepared and a candle lit, keeping the light burning even in the darkest hours. I was moved by this gentle waking, a soft, kind way to welcome the day as the nights grow longer.

A candle lit in the woods for my friend Martin for his funeral several years ago. you can read a poem for Martin HERE

As ever I thank you for reading my words, I hope you have found something resonant there. If you enjoyed my words please consider restacking, recommending or commenting - or even blow my mind with a tip in my tip jar!