I can think clearer in the cold.

 

It meets my skin,

Familiar,

Like an old friend.

 

Donning heavy gear,

Normal,

Like I’d been running round naked for months,

And now

Comfort,

Covering,

Layers I love.

 

Winter is my friend.

I’ve thought through a lot of it.

Prayed through layers of it

Over and over,

Footsteps crunching,

Songs rising,

Darkness centering,

Stars closing in

Reminding

Each night

Of heaven

Close.

 

 

I watched the world

Whiten

Slow,

Before my eyes

All day,

Layering,

Till my window view

Belonged on a Christmas card

And it stopped traffic,

All those innocent little flakes

Sticking together,

Stalwart,

Impartial,

Generous,

Layering.

Most said it came too soon.

The children disagreed.

I am apt to too.

 

Winter is my friend.

It makes it easy to stay home,

To say no,

To accept staying put,

Hibernating a bit,

Being

Instead of doing, going, rushing.

It justifies a delayed to-do list,

It justifies delving into a page-turner,

It justifies making surprise snowmen,

For your neighbours

And throwing snowballs

And being just a bit

Irresponsible

In general.

 

And the sky said to the clouds

“It is enough.”

And the earth lay muffled,

hushed,

slow,

underneath

all

the

layers.