Winter’s Dance

by Caroline Clemens

The bleak outlook of a cold winter’s day,

Makes waltz’s misstep as slippery ice brings,

Hardened limbs and hearts, like branches and things.

The red heart pulses, while eyes visualize grey.

Can they dance if a mind has gone away?

Echoes past in cathedral loudly rings,

One and two and breathe; loves melody sings.

Stilled and quiet, winter grieves her lost love.

The sympathies of ages mark time in church.

Yet, sapphire souls seek freedom in futile search.

Their lonely griefs covered with knitted glove,

The Winter’s Dance keeps time like bell above,

Unites them through winter wondrous trees of birch.

Loves end lasts forever, not winter’s lurch.

~2 verse, 7 lines, 10 syllable w/ 1,4,5 and 2,3,6,7 to rhyme describing winter, love and the end/changing of both.

Photography by Kim Troike