Winter's Antidote
O Winter, why this desolation? Trees, once verdant now stand bare
Flowers, long in hibernation; clouds that frown with ominous stare,
Bleak winds chill the rain-soaked bones and blow the leaves from yard to yard
Winter is for hardy souls whose skin is thick when life runs hard.
Come quickly, Spring, just weeks away, fulfill your promise: life anew
A ring to give, a vow to make, a oneness where there once were two
A fleeting, tragic, rain-drenched moment. One is gone, just one is left.
Foul Winter, taking one too soon, and leaving one too soon bereft.
Intrepid one - my dear, strong niece - you face the future minus one
Yet Spring is poised to soon return with yet another hope-filled sun
I throw a penny of good wishes in your fountain of love lost
What's this? Another penny there; another, and another tossed...
By end of week a million pennies tossed by those whose love pours out
A million small expressions of compassion for your winter drought
You're not alone, O precious one, you live enveloped by so many
Hope is winter's antidote; and love is spring's eternal penny.
Written the week my niece's 29-year-old fiance died in
an automobile accident, 2 months shy of their wedding day.
Written 8 Mar 2015
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