Winter Prince

When Winter kisses Summer... Spring is born.

 

Winter Prince

 

The night was cold and stormy,

And I was wide awake, or so it seemed.

So I shut out winter's fury,

And lost myself in pleasant dreams.

 

I found myself in a cathedral,

The ceiling of thick trees,

And the floor's carpet of grass was speckled

With the flowers of the spring.

 

The little squirrels and singing birds,

Childlike, they said hello.

Then I felt the welcoming nudge

Of a fawn's soft velvet nose.

 

I came upon a pool,

Smooth and glassy as a pane.

But my reflection had me fooled.

It could simply not be me.

 

White roses decorated my hair,

So dark and richly falling.

A white dress made of shear

Like spider's silk that sparkled with beads of water.

 

Though it was enchanting,

I must remember, tis' a dream.

But I will lose myself for now,

And forget the troubles of reality.

 

It was warm and peaceful

As I wondered through the wood.

Yet there came a sudden chill

That shook me to my bones.

 

I heard the rattle of a bridle.

The steady clopping of a horse.

And as I stood there idle,

The wind waxed cold and coarse.

 

As the rhythmic beat grew louder,

I felt the hooves tramp down the earth.

Then came a blinding cloud,

Cool and icy to the touch.

 

A sharp low voice called to me.

"Who are thou that block the path?"

But I could give no answer.

I was too far taken aback.

 

He stood tall and statuesque.

Steely blue, his eyes forced there way into mine.

Not at all windblown, he kept a rigid stance,

And his features were chiseled as ice.

 

"What is it you want?"

My trill voice said as strong as I could muster.

He took one step toward the fading light,

Which shone his fair skin full of luster.

 

Unmelting snowflakes ornamented his pale blonde hair and clothes.

A shield of cool air surrounded his body.

He carried with him an atmosphere so cold,

That I no longer felt warmth near me.

 

There was something in the way he moved

That held me spellbound in his sight.

He had brought winter's cold along,

And turned the golden day to onyx night.

 

There was something in his smile

That whispered "come a little closer."

I could sense there was no harm,

So I braved one step down the wooded aisle.

 

He reached out his shimmering hand,

And what did I do under his spell but trust him?

And then he pulled me in,

His sturdy arms now held me captive.

 

"I am winter's prince," he said.

"And you are queen of summer.

Please, do not fear the cold.

It is my time to come."

 

"But you put the animals to sleep," said I.

"And you kill the lovely flowers."

"Everything has a season," he replied.

"And the flowers will bloom again."

 

Winter rode in on a white steed,

And so now he rules the season.

I stood by waiting patiently,

Till I would rule again.

 

And I befriended winter,

And I learned to love the ice.

Perhaps it was a spell.

Perhaps my thoughts were as frozen as the night.

 

But I no longer cared,

As I glided over the solid pool.

Underneath a crystal dome of icicles,

He danced along with me too.

 

But soon enough the ice would break,

And I would glow resplendently.

Soon enough the cold would fade,

And the crystals on my train would turn to beads of wet.

 

As he bid me goodbye,

I felt his cool breath upon skin.

But instead of a shiver I surged with heat.

A sensation I did not understand.

 

"Farwell, Queen of Summer.

May you rule the land gently.

I have kissed the apples and winter berries,

Now they will grow for thee."

 

He had kissed the apple and cherry trees,

I thought as a tear glistened defiantly on my cheek.

I did not wish for him to leave,

But before he did, might he also kiss me?

 

He seemed to read my mind.

Suddenly, frost formed on my lips.

I overcame the cold,

As I kissed the winter prince.

 

Then he vanished with the breeze,

Yet I still felt his icy touch.

He lingered on with me,

For the warmth of spring is not too much.

 

The ice began to crack,

As the earth began to warm.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Was all I heard,

But familiar was the sound.

 

CRACK! One loud enough to wake me.

It was an ice-logged branch against the window.

It had all been just a dream.

Splendor and enchantment gone.

 

As I rose to shut the curtain,

I heard a knock upon the door.

I reacted quickly,

Hoping that no one was harmed from the cold.

 

When the door was opened,

There stood a man, tall and shimmering with ice.

I took a step back,

Not believing what befell my eyes.

 

"You are like a queen of summer," said he.

"I seek shelter from the cold.

And if you would have me tonight,

I will promise to soon be gone."

 

His steely blue eyes were pleading.

I let him in the door.

"I know you from somewhere," I said.

"I am absolutely sure."

 

"Was I in a dream?" he asked.

"Was it filled with snow?"

I could not believe my ears.

"Why, yes, how did you know?"

 

"Just a guess," he whispered.

His cool breath fell on my neck.

Then I turned and kissed him.

He was my winter prince.

 

November 19, 2010