A year can fall like Autumn,
days measured in fading warmth.
Unseasonal, it stretches beyond
promises of spring. Of tomorrow.
The river passes numb as winter
fails to freeze the pain, when too much
colour bleeds from a limbless tree.
Each leaf had name once.
You try to catch them all, words
rain into palms: raised, bare,
soft corners pressed to lips of sky,
wanting it mute, its edges held
shut forever.
You do not capture one. Branches
turn stark, no covering of snow
to soften barren lines. Hard grey fingers
left to grapple with blue things.
Like your hands, wind-stripped,
boneless, reaching for water
or heaven. Either would do but both
are too fluid for touch.
That rain like tears,
too heavy to hold, frozen or not.
Too empty with wet.
So comes the memory of falling
snow, before it froze. Each flake
unique, so fragile before winter
sets, each nerve too warm.
Author notes
For Suzi and Sylvia ... may the next year of pets be a better one.
In a list
A contest entry
- Smile? by Exodus.
525 points, ended January 18, 2008, 23 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think (Critical Honesty Appreciated)
Comments
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I don't have anything to say about this one.
I drank it down from beginning to end and was left pleasantly (and not so pleasantly depending on how you look at it) wanting more. Thank you hun
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"You try to catch them all, words
rain into palms: raised, bare,
soft corners pressed to lips of sky,
wanting it mute, its edges held
shut forever."
Such incredible pathos & yearning resonates throughout this piece, my Friend. Beautifully penned. Good luck in the contest, Sweetie. 
Wanda
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