Time To Stop

Time to Stop

Winter will soon be here

with her clawing, nagging cold breath.

And as the days recede, like old man’s hair,

the nights close in from both sides of the twice carved day,

to trap us in its vile grip as the icy witch throws down her cold coat.

The wind bites now as I rush from kitchen door to my garage,

in the dawn before my long daily commute,

to empty the guilt from my recycle basket,

and retreat with haste

back into the suffocation of false warmth,

pumping like life support

through the creaking, groaning pipes

around my house.

Oh that I could skip a beat

and miss these desolate frosty days

to awaken with spring upon my face again.

For this cynical cycle of seasons

serves only as a cruel reminder

of the passing years

and the life that slips evermore from my grasp.

 

04/09/13

Author's Note

Reviews

[Zahra]

Very nicely crafted, great work.

[R. L. Hill]

Those final four lines are my favorite. Great poem!

[Lyn Anderson]

Nicely done. Umm, should I hate the passing winter more, or the fact that I am getting older by the minute. Way to be a downer! But you do it in style.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you KLG. I am just a sun worshiper and I come alive in the sun so English winters are not my scene ; so for me a life full of summers would aid the passing of the years!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"the icy witch throws down her cold coat"

damn how do you come up with lines like that?

so cool, just like the poem literally and figuratively.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Gosh Jacob coming from such a master of poetry who is so well respected I am humbled! Thank you.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

hey, thanks John, for that...but i am just another one of us poets, trying to find the words.

jacob

[AYVID N]

I never seen a more realistic yet poetic description of Winter.
You potrayed the dread of the approaching winter beautifully.

"Winter will soon be here
with her clawing, nagging cold breath.
And as the days recede, like old man’s hair,
the nights close in from both sides of the twice carved day,
to trap us in its vile grip as the icy witch throws down her cold coat"

And the bitter reality that it brings with it...

"For this cynical cycle of seasons
serves only as a cruel reminder
of the passing years
and the life that slips evermore from my grasp"

Yours is one of the most beautiful countries and I was stumped by the sheer beauty of it. Yet, because It was December 2010 and the winter was an especially harsh one. I couldn't wait to get back home...

Thank you for this masterpiece on Winter!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you dear Divya for such a lovely review. I hope you get the chance to visit the Uk in the summer. If you do let me know.

[Quill~]

Cynical much?...not you John. ;)
I do enjoy your words.... It's time to defrost. :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ha? Was simply bemoaning the passing of summer as I detest winter and having to wear too many layers!. Thanks Quill.

[Quill~]

:) you're welcome...
same here my friend...same here...

[annie lee]

Winter has always been a metaphor for me: for aging, for loss, for being trapped. Yet I always enjoyed the snow and the storms as long as I did not have to venture out. But venturing out is a requirement for the rat race. As an ex-rat, I am deluged with gratitude that I only have to view winter on Christmas cards and the Santa Cruz mountains now and them. Beautiful, evocative poem.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Annie

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Hi John, this poem is poignantly pieced together and moving I felt, lovely writing.

[Jack...]

And they come and change faster and faster it seems. The time of the seasonal blur is upon me at leats where one dispaaers so soon after it has ariived. So as far as Winter my friend, just hagn on a minute, it will change.

Very nicely penned John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Jack. I would still give winter a miss if I could.

[Pryde Foltz]

I've said it before but reading this poem, I am reminded. So good to have you and your pen back. I do like what you do on the page, John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Pryde, you are very kind.