Winter Lover

In my pool of quiet time, the hushed silence of first snowfall magnifies the word 'alone' as I think of you. I'd not thought to see the racing moon revealing scenes of such quiet beauty without your eyes to share them. Surrounded by this down plucked from snow goose clouds, pain comes to smother, isolate. If only every heartache could be cloaked in the same way as winter's weariness is hidden now from sight. Earth had been lying bare, leaf blanket long since swept away by gales...exposing frost heaved emotions gripped in tundra cold. The Ice King sitting on North's throne must have taken pity on Mother Earth in her brown nakedness, clothing her as a lover would in virgin white garments. Evergreen branches bending low with their burden, form a canopy where I see him kneel above her, criss-crossing her body with kisses evidenced in night creatures paw-prints. Voyeur, self-accused, I watched them lay together then, hand-fasted, throughout the long night...he caressing her with wind sighs, she absorbing all his moisture. There in the tenderness of Ice king and Mother Earth, somewhere behind the bare tree pallisade of my being, let me harbor hope, even so little as that of a cardinal's wing flashing against the snow... As she yields herself once again to his embrace, I will know that these throes of love in moonlight can only lead to her conceiving Spring.as always, i ask your help, fellow poets, in critique...i have never used this style before, nor caps and punctuation...so in this trial, i have adapted the theme of 'winter wedding' only to have a familiar platform for springing into unknown waters. my clarity and symbolism need much improvement and that requires your feedback. i would appreciate any who might comment or critique...i suppose this does not belong in the category of new poems, but this writer had no clue as to where to place such a piece. :) Written February 7th, 2002 © on Feb 06 2002 10:45 PM PST   18 • 0 • 12