(i)
O winter, fain would I fireside write
Homages to you in Odes
If only there was shining light
Enough to measure pulchritude.
Yours is a non-objective art
For even that most generous Bard
Compared thee to an absent heart.
The landscape rigor mortis hard
Grave as death when lovers part
Mortified and deeply scarred.
An emptiness abounds in frost
Sadder still than last year's nest.

(ii)
You see me frozen as in flesh
A barren film across the fields
Core inside out there is tête-bêche
A hibernating pulse concealed.
I am a limbo for this earth
To contemplate high solar heaven.
On silent scaffolding of tree, the dearth
Of bud conceives sublime, and wren
When facing glaciation
Sings hustle rustle of creation.
It is not death this frost fair fest
Just measured slumber, season's rest.

12 thoughts on “Winter’s address”

1. Your dialogue poem is stunning, Laura! It reminded me a little of Marlowe’s passionate shepherd and Raleigh’s nymph’s reply. I especially like the lines:
   ‘The landscape rigor mortis hard
   Grave as death when lovers part
   Mortified and deeply scarred’
   and
   ‘On silent scaffolding of tree, the dearth
   Of bud conceives sublime, and wren
   When facing glaciation
   Sings hustle rustle of creation’.

   1. Thank you for the comparison Kim

2. This is first of a dialogue poem that I’m reading. Amazing creation! 🙂

   1. Many thanks – it was one way of embodying winter

      1. You are welcome. 🙂

3. This is such a passionate dialogue poem, Laura! Wow 😍 I especially love; “The landscape rigor mortis hard/Grave as death when lovers part.” Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt 💜💜

   1. Thank you for the prompt – it was a challenge!!

4. So many stunning lines in your poem, but I like that despite the dark imagery the second part ends with on a positive note. Can rigor mortis maybe thaw?

   1. In a kind of Lazarus way I guess it does –

5. I love your metaphors of winter. The cold lover’s heart… the earth turned inside out… the scars on the landscape! Well done.

   1. I like your interpretation Dwight- thank you for that

      1. You are welcome!

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