Heavy blankets pile our old, cold bed
Illuminations
Battle with the gloomiest of days
Eagerly my skin reaches out for warmth
Reddening hands, toasting toes
Now the grate's ablaze with wood
August gathered. incinerating summer like some
Treachery. December has begun this seasonal
Endurance.
An acrostic and just 44 words for Mish’s quadrille with the word: hibernate
PoetryPix 
Endurance… yes exactly that is what is December is all about… in less than a week it will start to change.
indeed
I love an alliterative title and an acrostic, Laura, especially in a quadrille. I also love the sounds in ‘old, cold bed’, and the contrast between ‘gloomiest of days’ and ‘the grate’s ablaze with wood’.
thank you Kim – this my last poem of 2025 so managed a few literary devices!
Your most welcome, Laura. I look forward to reading more of your poems in 2026.
❤
Laura, you give me fresh eyes on burning wood in winter. Wonderful phrasing throughout.
I really appreciate your feedback on the poem Lisa, especially the phrasing
❤
Lovely title. You’ve really captured the mood and movement of enduring winter. Especially love “August gathered. incinerating summer like some / Treachery.” A wonderful acrostic too!
your prompt brought the poet out of hibernation – thank you Mish!
Mish, thanks for pointing out the acrostic 🙂
Endurance…yeah ..as the fire cackles…
ages since I’ve seen your presence Ain – almost as though you were hibernating though I know its was not that
Thanks yes been a bit topsy turvy, v nice to read yr poetry as always
welcome back especially with such nice words (and your Black Sea swimming deserves a medal)
Thanjs for gracefully sharing winter’s woes
🎄much love
dear Gillena – I still can’t comment via google sign in – I can on other bloggers that permit anonymous or name/url sign ins!
I like these lines, “August gathered. Incinerating summer like some treachery.” -Delightfully creative.
Here we go again. Bundle up.
Wishing you wellness and peace,
Ali
many thanks Ali for picking those lines – that notion only struck as I was writing the poem
I really like your contrasts throughout your poem, Laura. It makes it much more striking and memorable!
thank you Dwight – its a season of contrasts – though more wet and dry at the mo in our exterior/interiors
You are welcome.
As others have mentioned, the incinerating line is very evocative. 👏
thanks for picking out that one too
Such powerful imagery which really adds to the tensions you convey – Jae
very nice critique =much appreciated
Your imagery is fantastic. Your rhythm hypnotic. You are a natural. Kudos on a stellar poem!
Such high praise Heather – I am so grateful!
I love ‘incinerating summer like some / Treachery’, and indeed the lovely use of language throughout.
thank you for your very encouraging feedback, Rosemary
Fabulously done acrostic, Laura. Perfect–and perfect for the season!
many thanks Jennifer – I find acrostics a helpful springboard for poetry sometimes