(Written in response to Longest Night)

Life before was easy

In the summer we shared

Miracles with wings and claws

Plucking corn straight from the stalks

The west wind ran alongside us

And the sun paused in the sky a while, 

Letting us build forts made of trees--

We were gods, creators of time:

Unstoppable and glaring

In autumn, we stole the sun

Made campfires of its flame

Drank cherry schnapps 

Breathed dreams into the warmth

And watched them come alive 

The light tiptoed away from us

Suddenly, winter:

Suddenly, freezing air 

And darkness--

A blackened hill and our bitter bones.

The sun had snuck away and we watched

Helpless as the thick night came

We were mortal again, 

And we ached 

In that fever of the evening, 

we learned

things are only worth loving 

if they one day might leave

We never touched like this in the summer

Keeping out the cold with our bodies: 

In the winter, we found our voices. 

I tell you:

the darkest day means it’s getting lighter soon

Inch by inch, the sun will return,

We just have to wait for it.

The sun will rise, and I will be alive to see it.