The Sun Over the Hollers
Light After the Long Winter

The sun spills over the hills like a broken jar of honey,
staining the world in a bright, sudden glow.
The heavy sleep of the land is over.
Where the ground was hard and dark,
a sharp, new life pushes through the soil,
searching for the warmth of a clear sky.
I stand in the open field
and feel the pulse of the earth
rising to meet my breath.
π·
Everything I carried through the long, cold months
falls away like a coat no longer needed.
The grief that felt so solid,
shattering now within my spirit,
dissolves in the wash of this brilliant morning.
π·
The redbird moves through the wet grass,
a small fire against the damp earth,
while wild birds I have never seen
fling their music into the wide, deep space above.
π·
There is no need for words or reasons.
The beauty of the day is enough to break
the last of the ice around my heart.
π·
I watch the light run down the steep mountains,
chasing the shadows into the hollers,
until everything is radiant and new.
The morning is a wild, strange gift,
and I am lost in the glory of its coming.
About the Creator
Tim Carmichael
I am an Appalachian poet and cookbook author. I write about rural life, family, and the places I grew up around. My poetry and essays have appeared in Beautiful and Brutal Things, My latest book. Check it out on Amazon
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Compelling and original writing
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The story invoked strong personal emotions

Comments (2)
Sheesh, this is gorgeous. Really, really gorgeous. I loved how warm this poem felt, like the beginning of spring! The image of the sun like a broken jar of honey and the stanza about the redbird are stellar. Loved this!
Gβdamn youβre such a good poet