deep dread of sunlight in winter
the obligation to fill the promise of life
out in a world too vast
waning light
first darkness gives joy
somewhere deep in the brain
or chest
cholesterol-made hormones
tell the wintering human:
wake
sleep
eat
find a mate
grow your bones
what foolishness to stand upon
the thresh hold of this day,
to presume control of
these signals
It's the season of surrender.
once upon a time
this dog was a puppy
now, in her aging hips
behold the future:
in dreams she still
chases bears and
fights raccoons, bloody teeth
though in waking hours
neither of us climb mountains
like we once did
on the dance floor tonight
I saw a middle aged couple,
smiling like kids,
their skin showing weather
their clothes faded by years of sunlight,
but what could only be love--
the clear bright light of it--
shone through the place,
found me there watching
at the perimeter
talked to me,
told my DNA
what it ached to hear.
~ photo and words, nellyda anslow