Winter bearings
Winter of broken dreams
so soon laid to rest
Dark clouds in from the east
and snow shrouds the land
Seasoned lovers wrap up
to keep warm
while youngsters skate
on the frozen pond
Winter’s a way of life
beneath blankets and heavy woollens
light fades and birds shiver
in their nests
As a child I tried to read the flames
that burned in the hearth
fiery tongues of red and gold
as opaque as ever
that kept us alive
through bitter months
All of that a world away now
Each day brings new things
a new moon and fresh prospects
and my pulse quickens
as December approaches
Soon all manner of mysteries
may be revealed
though for now I journey on
through mists and frost
and haywire bearings
as I head for the place
of my birth
John Lyons