Seasonally Affected
The seasons affect us, whether
daylight drains away in the afternoon
or evening. The snow and ice
chase us indoors, slow our steps,
our driving, our blood. We see branches,
bare, as bones. Plants persist
in the winter, but they do not grow.
Evergreen and ochre bark instead of pink
or white petals. Shadows bloom
in the tree limbs and thus, some
place inside us. There was once a purpose
for our sadness and fatigue
in winter. We were naked
and cold, or we used to be bears and still
experience the urge to hibernate.
There are many ways to bring
light into your life in the winter. Buy a lamp,
arrange for a mechanical dawn
at your bedside. Tell your cells
that this bulb is the sun transformed into
a potted plant. They may or may not
fall for it. There will always be
darkness in you. What can you build
with it, with your sensitivity.
i think this is one of my favorites, Hannah. beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line in this is "Buy a lamp, / arrange for a mechanical dawn / at your bedside."
ReplyDeleteNice wordplays and another very good poem.
Lovely poem Hannah. It makes me sad that bears don't want to hibernate.
ReplyDelete: ) I was thinking about the bears too! Yes, it is true, we are not supposed to experience the seasons. Not really! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi, Hannah, "There will always be/darkness in you" I simply, completely, love your voice. Grant
ReplyDeleteI like the play between light and dark in this, and that, truly, "There will always be
ReplyDeletedarkness in you." I agree.
Thanks, I needed that. (Loving all the other poems, too!!)
ReplyDeleteSo lovely, and I love the video, too!
ReplyDeleteI am grateful that your poem acknowledges that "There will always be/ darkness in you. What can you build/ with it, with your sensitivity." Sensitivity is a gift - and a challenge. Wise poem.
ReplyDeleteLovely xx
ReplyDelete