Resurrection

The cold, clear breeze pulls me back in

Ashen embers beneath an icy sky

I never even thought I’d get this far

And now in the heart of December,

No birds are soaring up high

No longer are the branches decorated with berries

The living breath of the world has paused, lies still

So how to keep moving? What kindling is the fuel?

From death to life and back again,

A lone snowdrop fights winter’s chill

The winter outside preserves, keeps the memories

Tears frozen on a cheek, embedded in the skin

I don’t even recognize some of them

In truth, it’s only a relic of what was,

where I’ve been

Searching for a warm place to renew

But is it better to stay out here? For I know

that the soaring peaks

of mountain tops

are as dangerous as the lows

As the leaves awake from their slumber

I’m not sure I’m ready for what comes next

So much time has there been

in stasis and sorrow

That all knowledge of joy has been repressed

Remembered is a time

When the blanket of frost turned to flame,

The energy unstoppable, arterial

But as Icarus touched the sun

I’ve learned not to do the same

The next part of the ride may be rough

But now that the world below is in thaw,

All the colours of spring return

and beauty that once was lost

The curse and the blessing of awe

So, do I make this my last summer?

It is true that winter’s sorrows await

The decision is made:

not to take the easy escape,

but to accept that there is no choice in fate