Frozen Halcyon

in the time before, in dormancy, I recall it all—

the past, my soon-to-be present—

lying in wait, anticipating the date of my rebirth

tranquillity in my dormancy before rebirth

#

I

awake

I

thirst

for the water

the water of the land

I

arise

I

desire

for the fauna

the fauna of the land

I

grasp

I

covet

it all

it all—

#

of the land

all the places I've stayed

my power demands

all the faces I've erased

my power commands

the personas I've used

of cold impermanence

the frozen forces

expose, like spiderwebs

and cobwebs dusted for prints

the personas I've abused

when all was warmer

linger at the year's close

the silent forces

all the trust I've eroded

stalking the land

and the love I've corroded

laying claim to its majesty, beauty, ecstasy, and legacy

piercing through, a burning deception—

halcyon ecstasy, now a brittle illusion

created in the warmth

destroyed in the cold

Frost's first breath,

never better—yet never greater

a crystallised kiss

than true love’s embrace

that stills the crisp brown and red leaves

the real love I threw asunder

with a glittering veil

it was there all along

acceptance replaces resistance

it was there where I belong

#

first a bite—then nothing

not behind the facade of lust

the king and queen

within the veil of lies,

of this dominion of white—a cleansing or covering

it was there all along

of my inception

it was there where I belong

#

divisions that divide

forgotten

derisions that deride

forgiven

as the warmth reclaims

my land

and the temporary kingdom

in all its glory and grandeur

#

the brightest light

reveals its brilliance

but the visual elation

comes at a price

melts ice-carved spires,

and frozen battlements dissolve into streams

so does my heart, thawed in awe—

resigned to the warmth’s cruel, cosy grip,

both in sadness and joy, in quiet acceptance.

of nature's eternal cycle

the frost—the precursor—too pure to remain

as the sun rises—nothing stays the same

#

I—

losing my grip once more—a drip,

I’m regressing again,

another drop—to dormancy

it was there all along

At last, I know—it’s where I belong

*

Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: Originally for the Frosted Verse Challenge, now being entered into The Sound of First Frost, inspired in part by Poppy's Prompts #11, as I use a few of the words. Check it out below:

Here are a couple of other things you might like to read if you have time and inclination: