Winter

A personification of Winter. Acts as a follow-up to my poem 'Autumn'.

Winter lives a busy life

After lulling his sister dear

He puts the world itself to sleep

With a blanket that shines in the sun

He never ceases in his work

Giving the fair land its rest

For the coming of Spring

When she touches down on the world from high

Winter gives the world his hardest

But all this work needs heat

And so the world needs to settle with the cold

So old Winter can make the world ready

Winter looks over his sisters with care

He makes the ground sit and wonder

Ease the strength back into mother Earth

So she may bear fruit and flower once more

Winter has his sisters habit of whistling

Letting the rippling notes feel the air

Before they spread out again

Flying to the four corners on the wind

Autumn sleeps on beneath the snow

And Spring makes her way down to visit

While Summer gives her warmth to the south

As Winter makes his lonely work of the ground

Very few times has he seen the trees bright

But they reach to him like hands of strangers

And he shakes them delicately

Bidding them good day and night

Winter has eyes which look out

With a warmth one would not so often guess at

A caring light reminiscent

Of the dying sun seen through frost

Teeth sharp as icicles sit in his mouth

Breaking open the rough potatoes and nuts

Which grow with him as the months slog by

Waiting for the sun to come

The world often does not see

The work Winter provides for us

The very Earth would fall away if not for his effort

But he remains unthanked by all but his kin

That is all good Winter needs

To know that the love of his sisters is there

Before he must rest once again in his big bed of furs

Donated by the animals which keep him company

Winter heaves a sigh

Shakes the offered hand of Spring

Turns the land over to her until she grows tired again

Until little Autumn calls him out of his sleep once more