the winter sunlight is brief but lilac bright
glamorizing woodland, bold burnished bark
and polished floors of desiccant decay
brittle as bones and drip-dried handkerchiefs
after our mourning has sapped every memory
of that visceral vitality

it's so much clearer in the clearings
all the canopy has finally pulled back
retreating before the year has time to pass
and torn from lichened masts, some of the last tatters
scatter and fall far from their beginnings

yew berries, fast fading fungi and a few untidy nests
ruminations mulled like wine for meanings
perhaps they are presentiments or something like salvation
at this fir tree festival of birth and offerings.

20 thoughts on “out of the woods?”

1. Beautiful words

   1. thank you Eileen – and for your continuous support

2. Beautifully described, as always. Each season can bring its own anguish and comfort, mixed.

   1. Into the mix we go and make what we can of our singleness! I felt there was some optimism emerging here but I know that comes in waves

3. Stunning, Laura, in its acute imagery.

   1. thank you for that assurance Tish – the lines came readily but would not stay in place – had to do a lot of jiggling and juggling

4. Such a wonderfully deep and wistful poem, Laura! 💜The phrase “ruminations mulled like wine for meanings,” gives me the feeling of one reminiscing and reanalyzing past events. 🙂

   1. You have hit the button Sanaa – astute!

5. I love, especially, “brittle as bones and drip-dried handkerchiefs / after our mourning has sapped every memory”. Wow. I can feel the brittle branches of winter, and hear the mourning heart.

   1. gladdened by your sensory response Sherry 🙂

6. I love, love, love this poem!!!

   1. what more can I say but thank you, thank you!

7. This is beautiful, an entire novel in a few lines. Love the “lilac bright” winter light.

   1. what a lovely comment – many thanks. I’d made the photoart a while back and found it fitted here – not least because the colour lilac is traditionally half mourning

8. You have captured the season beautifully here!

   1. my first Chanukkah without Martin but I took some comfort from a walk in the woods and the 8 candles marking re-dedication

9. This piece was so beautiful to read out loud especially with phrases like “bold burnished bark” and “fast fading fungi”. Utterly delightful!

   1. thank you – I very much appreciatie your comment as most of my edits after the first drafts revolve around the poem sounding right

10. “ruminations mulled like wine”—what an exquisite image!

    1. seasoned and seasonal! – many thanks

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