Winter's Guest (Poetry)

I stayed with Winter as her guest
she gave me her most silent room
where night stretched long — I took my rest
while shadows wrapped me close in gloom.

She played the rôle of hostess well
although I rarely glimpsed her face
her chill soon entered every cell
and locked me fast in her embrace.

My heart seemed stopped — my flesh grew numb
I laid upon my snow white bed
and wondered whether Spring would come
to thaw my mind and clear my head.

I wrote old dreams on sheets of frost
thin pages haunted by desire
but love’s frail poems soon were lost
consumed by cold’s intense pale fire.

No longer guest — I’m Winter’s slave
forever chained — held deep in thrall
forgetting all I used to crave —
my frozen past beyond recall.

The window’s high square patch of grey
might never turn to kinder blue
depression rolls the same dull day
and sun hides stubborn — overdue.

My world reduced to black and white
no hint of colour anywhere.
Cruel Winter’s drained all thoughts of flight —
I am resigned — no longer care.

So here I’ll stop — inertia wins
all reason to escape has gone.
My private ice age now begins
as Winter’s reign drags on and on...