Winter Soul

With quietness the ice diamonds fall
Each leaf of cloud falling toward its end
I with my cold cheeks against the wind
Listening . . . listening

In the thick silence
Save for wind and cold, groaning tree
I stand alone against the white
Listening . . . listening

Time travels slowly if at all
The sun shows itself none too often
My eyes rarely greet it as I walk alone
Listening . . . listening

The tall, white skydirt
Covering all things that move slowly
I too am overtaken by its continual fall
Listening . . . listening

The sound of shattering water from the tree branches
Cracks for a moment the holy silence
I open my moist eyes for a moment
Listening . . . listening

The cold grips the land silently
With a grand union it binds with it
A tear falls from my wind-burned face
Listening . . . listening
Always listening . . .