I collected a poem*

Robin sits on Frost covered branches all huddled and puffed up

Bullfinches, like plush berries, 
Huddled decorativly on baren trees. 
December has snug through the door
Under the guise of November gray.
Heavy pillows full of pending snow
Linger below the blue ceiling. 
I am entering stasis, space in between, 
Before the sun is reborn. 
Watching the days grow ever shorter. 
Everyone is holding a long breath. 
Mallards hide their bills underneath warm feathers. 
Heron amongst silver reeds, 
alternates the leg submerged in cold water. 
Even jaybird flies past without a warning call. 
Kingfisher the only one who can’t stop the busy bustle. 
Cold wind nips my face, 
Blowing away remnants of gossamer. 
Moss makes pompoms along elder branches. 
Redwing and blackbird beaks full of red baubles. 
Everything is Christmas coloured right now. 

*During a lunchtime walk before the lurgy struck. I literally wrote each line as I observed.

The Holly and the Oak

Obsidian vines strangle the last light of  day.
Hungry fingers stretch across the sky devouring dying embers.
Stars, phantasms of ancient fire, bear witness to the battle below.
A wooden throne cradles the dying king.
He lost the battle during this longest night.
His blood saps into fallow acre.
Nurturing the frozen soil so it may come to life once more.
Humans have arrived to celebrate the kings.
Slowly the warmth of their balefires brightens the night.
Sounds of song soothe the dying king’s soul,
As his contenter lifts the sword unsheated.
And thus, blood, fire, song and sword bring forth the reborn sun.

A Sansa Walk

Raunacht Collection: Day 03

Knee deep snow beyond the paths
Mountain pine branches bent by white weight
Stillness of a windless day
Monks’ chanting
In the Buddhist temple at the apogee
The only noise besides the crunch of snow underfoot

The chants an eerie iterance
In a silent world
Carrying us up the mountain
Breath visible in frozen air
I am in this world and other world
Walking the liminal space
Floating in a white suspense

Prayers as metronome
On a snow-muted day
I am here, and now
And always and everywhere
In this moment

Grandma’s Duty

Raunacht Collection: Day 02

Your rough-hewn hands
Move over my anxious skin.
Head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands.
Head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
A little twirl,
more emphasise as you move over my hands,
and out and away.
I ought to sleep.
Alas I can’t.
My skin burns from carrying the day:
smells, sounds, colours have seeped into my epidermis,
setting the organ alight.
My stomach churns with thoughts and questions.
My brain spin tales and stories.
It won’t stop.
So you begin to sing.
Let the sound carry all away.
Let the sound quiet the stories
soothe the stomach.
All the while your hands move in their duty
of gathering an anxious child back into her body.

Christmas Eve

Rauchnacht Collection Day 01

Joyful chimes
Dance through the winter’s eve.
We are wrapped tightly,
In thick scarves and coats like down blankets.
Woolie socked feet, in big boots,
Crunch their way along the dark road,
Carefully determined,
Towards the sound of the bells.

Waiting are candle light, warm hugs from friends, carols to be sung, and nativity play.
Our noses numb with cold,
Mother, sister, me.

Stars decorating the dome above
Like the candles on our tree.
Snow is sparkling tinsel along the wayside.
We celebrate the light born.
Sun rising again and the days growing.
Stories blending into rituals,
Ancient tales in new dress.

The path, a road now,
Once carried mammoths,
And neolithic tribes.
And still we strive to the building on top of the highest elevation.
Coaxed by the sound of the bells,
To celebrate light reborn.
As we have done and will continue to do,
As long as the sun rises the next morning.

Our Street

It’s Christmas time the lights do shine,
In houses in our street.
I am bundled up in search for rhyme,
Because street, fleet, sheet, or sleet.

As I walk along to Christmas song;
In German song is Lied,
I wonder about the people
Who live along our street.

The old man in his red car,
Who really needs more luck,
And drives around the corners,
As if he is in a truck.

The people with a pack of dogs,
Who always look so happy,
The dogs are very tiny though,
And luckily not yappy.

Street, feet, eat, heat, sleet
The latter pelts my face.
Architecture on repeat,
This street is an odd little place.

What about the mathematician?
Deteriorating my rhymes condition!
Who calculates our lights’ algorithm,
Impossible they are an anachronism.

My rhymes begin to fall apart,
Although I am not yet loosing heart,
I tuck my scarf tight round my face,
And keep exploring our little place,
My steps begin to crunch on snow,
But only if I walk just like so.

There is the curious neighbour,
Who makes the curtains twitch.
And the really mean crusader,
Who makes my witch’s thumb itch.

There are a lot of little monsters,
Once a year to be seen,
But only if we respond,
To knocks on Halloween.

There is my garden hobby friend,
Who lives around the corner,
And gave me a pretty chilli plant,
Which has a place of honour.

The old man with the same name,
Gives the most beautiful Christmas cards,
I love to look at on my way hame,
They are light, blessings, and heart.

I’am running out of rhyme now,
If not out of street,
Have a very merry Christmas,
And do leastwise one good deed.