The Winter Lost

30 line poem

Uphill, uphill, companion,

Don your gray cloak and cowl of flapping, floating, furls,

It is time we push into the very snowstorms self and swirls,

I shall bear mine robes of brown as I have these many heartbeats,

We are to merge from our hillside winter shelter's meager retreat. 

Uphill, uphill, companion,

We are at mountain heights, the rock is castaway cliff and rise,

Trust not your youth, bear with you a staff to grope, and watchful eyes,

A word spoken in this mortal storm will make thee forever winter stone,

As the Winter chills those who through words on wind make themselves known.

Uphill, uphill, companion,

So very deep the snows, such penetrating chill of skeletal cold,

We are damp to our very hearts, and the staffs we use are our very life's hold. 

Uphill, uphill, companion,

I must show thee the way and route and pat,

Here we dare to know the Winter Substance and Its Powers Inner Wrath. 

Uphill, uphill, companion,

The Self that is we despite warning heart dares the Mountain Apex and Winter Crown,

And daring, trembles at the very snow scorn and the constant, staring rock frown.

Uphill, uphill, companion,

The cares we carry become tragic, silent weights,

For at these heights we see all truths of our fallen fates. 

Uphill, uphill, companion

No Promethean destiny for thee of gray and I of brown,

The Winter Mountain we brave is an invisible renown,

It is the outer and forbidden limits of the inner self and sense,

The mind's eclipse over the earth self to the cosmic tense,

It is truth behind truth, the greater gray of our decay and failure of seeing,

It is the subtraction of why, the flee of reason and the emergence of Cathartic being.

Uphill, uphill, companion.

Raymond Lee Collins

June 5, 1991

Swallow Camp

Early Hours

copyright reserved by the publisher

Carol A Wells

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

'The Winter Lost' near cries to be read, to be understood, to be honoured.

Line by line, stanza to stanza there seems - to me, to be undeniable tragedy, absence and isolation. Yet. that single repetitive phrase - 'Uphill, uphill, companion. ' is the core full of memories, emotions and.. love.

Beautiful writing. Truly beautiful.