WINTER INSIGNIFICANCE

 

My breath plumed in the frost filled air,

As I stood in the hush of a winter night,

Beneath the deep velvet blue of the night sky,

Filled with a myriad of glistening stars

And while I stand beneath its majesty

My futile thoughts are lost in its enormity

and I'm suddenly startled

Not just by the staggering beauty

But by my own insignificance in its glory.

And as I stand beneath the heavens

I feel alone, hopeless and helpless.

While a bitter chill touches my bones.

I continue to walk on the linen shrouded land

Footsteps treading crisply in the white

And my breath still plumes, though less so

As the velvet curtain of night has gone

Hidden behind a dark blanket of cloud

And then the cold frosty night was no more

As the wind freshened against my cheek

And in that instant fresh snow began to fall

Seemingly silencing my footfalls.

Large soft flakes drifting haphazardly

Like confetti on a happy wedding day

Or cherry blossom in a perfect spring.

Soon it fell faster, then faster still

Quickly obscuring my footprints

And blinding my view, disorienting me

As a bitter chill again touched my bones

The wind now stung my face with snow

As the blizzard of bridle white blew at me

And I bent into the northerly gale

Head down eyes narrowed, almost closed.

I stopped briefly to catch my breath

And insignificance washed over me again.

I knew I must go north into the mouth of it

The silent hush was no more as the blizzard blew

And the strengthening wind whistled.

My feet no longer crunched on frost and ice

And the deepening snow slowed my progress

Each step I had to drag my feet from the snows grip

And with each step I grow wearier

Feeling hopeless and helpless again

Alone, insignificant and small,

Smaller than a single snow flake

Smaller than any of the snowflakes around me

A bitter chill again touched my bones

Then suddenly I am once more filled with hope

As I pass between the old wrought iron gates

And on into the city street beyond

And with treated pavement beneath my feet

I left the park behind me and returned home