Boughs of fir
Colored lights
Crisp air and warm halls
Stew to warm my innards
Ale to calm my mind
A fire to turn death to life
And a blanket of snow
to dampen distant calls

Thank the stars for laughter

And for kind words

And for togetherness

Thank the stars for those who make us laugh

Who tell us kind things

Who make togetherness easy

Thank the stars for them

Before they’re gone

Bring me quiet
And a fire
Hot to burn away my fears
Hot to turn to ash my woes
Hot to make of my struggles a flame
And melt away
The fallen snow
Blanketing my aching heart

A breath
Is the fire
That burns against the cold

A salve
Is the rain
That comes amidst the drought

Salvation
Is the green
That sprouts from winter’s melt

If only I can nurture it

There is a shadow
Buried in my corners
Hidden in my nooks

Hidden from me
As I’ve hidden from it

Never stopping to wonder
Does it feel?
Does it fear?
Does it wish for my embrace?

Is it me?

The days grow short
The air, cool
And ‘neath the starless skies I marvel
That as all dies
The shadows grow and grow

When it has been a little while
Since last I felt your hand in mine
Heard your heart beat
Saw the deepness of your eyes

I want for it all the more

And when I feel it
Hear it
See it

It is all the sweeter
For that little while