Winter is awake again,
the maple skin exposed,
its branches cross
in secret codes
resembling pentagrams,
swastikas, or some other
scary symbols
once concealed
below green tunics,
discarded now,
the trunk’s wild worship
crisply revealed,
and I am left to repent
with the backyard heads
boughed in devotion,
their whispers, spells,
and incantations muffled
by the season’s slow motion.

I pray for the innocent
fall of snow
through my glass window.

© khartless 2021, All Rights Reserved


Artwork: Alfonso Mucha “Winter”

39 responses to “Winter is Awake Again”

  1. The snow is a mask
    Only covering the shame
    And secrets beneath.
    It is folly,
    Delusion of Yule
    Hiding away truth and death
    In our selfish and arrogant
    Quest for dominance.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Powerful words, dt. Thanks for sharing.

      Like

  2. Beautifully written, love. Winter is cold, but your words bring warmth. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you. Glad you felt the glow of this one.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Amazing piece, K. Love the image too. Wonderful.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Grace. I’m so glad you enjoyed this. Must credit Misky with the twiglet. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I sure did. My pleasure .💕❤️💕

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Absolutely gorgeous imagery, K. A beautiful poem. 💙

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. It was good to get back to nature as inspiration today.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome. Indeed.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Wow. This is exquisite. I especially love, “Winter is awake again,
    the maple skin exposed”

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for these kind comments. My backyard maples surprised me today.

      Like

  6. Amen! ❄️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. 😀May the cold freeze us.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. love the imagery of exposure and revelation —

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you kindly, John. It struck me how strange these backyard trees look without their regular attire.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. we all look a little different naked 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Or isn’t that we all look different clothed? I find people look quite similar in the buff, minus a bit of sagging that is natural with time. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      3. now I know where you’re coming from; yes, we do 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Such a fascinating perspective on winter. Great stuff!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Worms. Right out the back window here is a labyrinth of limbs. Winter always holds new mysteries for me.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I love winter… perhaps because I grew up in the tropics where there was so little seasonal demarcation.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I love having all four seasons. I could see it hard losing any of them-almost like losing an appendage. Melancholy can set in during the winter for me, so I need lots of jokes and jolliness to keep my spirits toasty.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Brill! Virgin snow definitely has an innocence.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Yes, it does. It seems to cleanse everything. This year, maybe even sanitize. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hope so!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. I loved “it’s branches cross in secret codes” brilliant there 👏👏❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks, Michele. Fun puzzle to figure out these backyard branches.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Your yard must be gorgeous ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It’s perfectly petite, but I like the look of it perched as we are a bit above the tree line.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. It doesn’t look petite! I need your gardening tips then 😁

        Liked by 1 person

  11. I nearly shivered. Love the idea of secret codes. Lovely poem, K, and glad to see that a Twiglet inspired you.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you kindly, Misky. Your twiglets often do, it’s just that this one had to branch out.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Interesting contrasts and implications in this poem. One to ponder.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, VJ. I told my muse to holiday, but she looked out the back window and was back at it again.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lol. Have to love her!

        Like

  13. writingwhatnots Avatar
    writingwhatnots

    Wonderful imagery revealed in your words.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Why, thank you. May winter find us with more mysteries and puzzles with pondering.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Reblogged this on sketchuniverse and commented:
    ❄️ OH SISTERS! WHAT A WONDERFUL DEPICTION ABOUT WINTER BY MUCHA, AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORDS BY KHARTLESS.

    Liked by 1 person

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