The Return

A Poem by Thrushsong

Winter is a cruel husband, the earth an unfaithful wife.

Winter came home today
Throwing Autumn's glory out
And darkness and dullness
Descended in its place

And the earth draws back
From cold hands on her face
As color retreats into memory
The world shrivels in its wake

He strips her naked of life
Jealously destroying gifts
Of Autumn's loving touch
On her once golden skin

Now pale from his dark fury
Ravaged by his chill grasp
He marks her in darkness
And holds her tight in ice

But he dresses her in white
And sleeves of pure snow
Cover the dark bruising
And she is clothed anew

Quiet and still she waits
In her downy white cloak
For Spring, her champion
To come rescue her again