The Winter Heart



An iceman stands


Beneath a falls

in somber solitude


Hoping someone

would pass there to

his loneliness intrude


There is no sound heard in the glen

no footsteps on the path

even the birds have ceased their song

sealing his epitaph


Another cold gray winter morn

much like the one when he was born

growing taller with frigid night

and again smaller with daylight

each taking its relentless turn


He longs to see a friendly face

before it's time to take his place

among those who have passed before

and sunk into the forest floor

vanishing without a trace

of the unyielding grace of God


A cycle as old as time itself

and time alone can tell

how much longer he must wait

entombed in this prison cell

but the day will come when he'll be free

then to fly

now to dream


A heart as pure as melted ice

beats deep within his breast

a heart still warm in a cold cruel world

encased in a crystalline chest

a heart that bleeds the truest love

and cries for love's return

but a heart that seeks its own demise

by dissolving the one who yearns


A muffled murmur meets his ears

he lifts his eyes to look

could this be voices he now hears

or just the bubbling brook

he has been fooled before, he knows

when listening to his heart

but now he sees three figures grow

and distant memories start

emerging as they approach


Perhaps it was another time

another place they'd met

perhaps just wishful thinking

but a wish has no regret

yet he did feel something

as their faces now were clear

and he noticed something beautiful

as they drew ever near

for in one's hands were flowers

on another's cheek a tear


The flowers were yellow daisies

the tear was for a son

the third was a loving father

and all four hearts were one

journeying far, uniting this place

standing there in silence

filling empty space

all nature now grieved with them

as it fulfilled its part

with breathless anticipation

awaiting the Winter Heart


Yellow petals gently plucked

and tossed into Life's stream

marking love once held, now lost

sent floating in a dream

cascade into tomorrow

drift through yesterday

the few remaining flowers

then at his feet did lay

and parting, the trio disappeared

a sudden sadness felt

his heart, warmed by their absence

the ice began to melt



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