under the crackling white

Tell yourself
as it gets cold and gray falls from the air
that you will go on
walking, hearing
the same tune no matter where
you find yourself—
inside the dome of dark
or under the cracking white
of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.
 

Tonight as it gets cold
tell yourself
what you know which is nothing
but the tune your bones play
as you keep going. And you will be able
for once to lie down under the small fire
of winter stars.
 

And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back
and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.

-Mark Strand, Lines for Winter

Comments

[Mick Mather]

In these wintry scenes and the wonderful words of Mark Strand, I feel safe and warm, as if I were wrapped in a large, warm quilt.

[Aravis]

The aftermath of the storms has been glorious, hasn't it? I look at the first photo and think, "Two roads diverged in a wood and I/I took the one less traveled by/and that has made all the difference."

[Amy]

Oh. Wow. Speechless.
...those photos are incredible, and those words are just what I needed to hear.

[ldahl]

Are you seeing spring out your way yet? We had hail the size of marbles yesterday but it made up for it today with a fabulous day.