Leaves green in summer
come flutter in fall.
Oak, Cherry once rich
surviving stand tall.
Drab split-hardened skin
scared naked exposed.
Arms reaching to heav’n
dread long dark and cold.
Fearful of winter?
Forgetful of spring?
Hope fades but a wink.
To rebirth you must cling.
Blood pearls on Holly
smooth waxy rich green.
Triumphant sweet Pine!
Faith steadfast wise tree.
Breathe forth sacred snow
north winds from afar.
White satiny sheets
mask ages old scars.
________________________________
I love winter. Overcast days, snowy nights, and a blue sky winter morning wonderland. It’s still autumn of course, but the first snow is arriving late this year to the Front Range foothills of Colorado. We’re expecting it tonight.
I wrote the first version of this poem in 2003; this is the third and final iteration. I know many who loathe winter, and a few who become severely depressed during the long, cold and dark days (a disorder known as SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder). They are miserable during the winter months. Lonely. Hurting. Sometimes hopeless. All of us, sooner or later, will walk through a season of difficulty, doubt, questions with no answers. A dark chapter we’d like to tear out.
Let nature be a reminder that winter doesn’t last forever–spring always comes. Pine trees are ‘ever’ green and sturdy in the wind, like a sage who welcomes a hard winter after surviving centuries of change. And the Holly. She bursts with contrasting reds and greens, like an excitable child, too young and carefree to let winter erase her color.
If your days are long and dark right now, hang on just a little longer…spring is on its way.
Revelation 21:4-5
Brock Stephen Henning 
“Blood pearls on Holly” – love, love, love this!
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This captures the crisp beauty of winter and its attendant poignancy so nicely.I never liked winter much until I did my year of daily outdoor solitude. In the end, I loved winter best of all. There is a clarity to it that enchants.
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Moondustwriter, thanks. I love greens and reds matted against the grays and whites of winter. :)Shashi, thanks for the visit. I enjoyed some of your haiku today. :)Jingle, I appreciate this and the other comments you left on other posts today. Thanks!Hi Terri! Thanks for the feedback. I often need that reminder. 🙂
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It’s easy to forget that life and the seasons contune on–thank you for a beautiful reminder:)
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super beautiful winter piece.the image reminds me of Christmas.
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Hi BrookIts very nice.. winter’s approach…in such a words..thanks for sharing… I enjoyed reading it…ॐ नमः शिवायOm Namah ShivayaTwitter: @VerseEveryDayBlog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
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A well written reminder from both nature’s stand point and God’s standpointI love the visualsthanks for sharing with One ShotMoon smiles
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Thanks for the comment, Claudia.Eric…you made me laugh with the ‘SAD’ comment. 🙂 Thanks for swinging by.
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The only things SAD about winter are shoveling out and driving!(I’m in no hurry for the snow!)Anyways, a very thoughtful piece about our friends, the trees. I liked your descriptions of them – very humanizing. Nice One Shot, Brock!
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…White satiny sheets…niceand i agree, winter is a season which casts a spell when the first snow falls..
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Ron, thanks for visiting Lifesummit and for the follow. I just added your blog to my follow list as well. You have some good stuff out there. :)Thanks again, and blessings!
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I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.God Bless You :-)~Ron
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