The Winter Room

The light sweeps the room with its bluish breath;
the dying of another day slips quietly
into the barren soil and the world sleeps
beneath the heavy lids of night

where bare branches scrape window panes
begging for a warmth they once knew,
and the air snaps in the wind of invisible flags
holding vigil above the dead earth.

The moon is frozen in the darkest of voids
while I armor myself in flannel and burrow
under turrets of down determined to
keep the hollowness from swallowing me.

I will not be dragged into a tundra of despair
even though its reach is long and deep.
My heart flutters like a dying moth
caught in the mesmerizing path of a flame.

I hum a haunting lullaby softly to ward off
the bleakness that seeps into my soul waiting
for dawn to untie the double-knotted doubts
that tie me tight to the winter room.

Reviews

[Enid Blake]

A good metaphor for the blues... Very nice

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much or commenting.

[Rita L. Sev]

Excellent metaphor in these winter-chill images. Warding off sadness becomes more difficult in the darkest, deadest months - yet we pile on more blankets in hope... Great poem, Blue.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much for your comment Rita.

[Dr. Wood ?]

excellent write ICE, I had to put on an extra pair of socks to read this....Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Dr. Wood, winter is coming you know.

[Dr. Wood ?]

it is bloody freeeeeeezing here today..The wind is howling off the sea....Thankfully I am working at home...Decorators never get away

[icelandicblue]

Stay warm Doc. It's cold here today but no howling wind.

[Dr. Wood ?]

I'll do my vvvvvery bbbbest

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this poem has a haunting feeling to it...staving off night, staving off depression..but both will come, we just have to untie the fears and doubts the best we can.

winter is dark, my soul is dark...

i need to find the light. this poem is a zinger.

[icelandicblue]

thanks for reading and commenting jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i am glad this is getting the reads and comments it deserves.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you jacob...I appreciate your support.

[AYVID N]

Your words are full of sheer human grit and resolve. I love the way the superb and lovely winter images are created and connected to the barreness and bleakness of the soul. I love the way the subject is fighting to prevent the waters from engulfing her.

This poetry is extremely beautiful and poignant in its message. You create magic with your pen!

[icelandicblue]

You are too kind but thank you so much.

[AYVID N]

You are most welcome!

[Sheila Kline]

Your words are enough to ward off the chill of winter that blasts in with its icy, frigid, soul wrenching, joy robbing blues!! The cold winds, dark skies, barren landscape have a way of reaching down into the soul of one and snuffing out the fires of that which encourages survival!

Your lines are gripping! The images you have conjured in my mind put Old Man Winter on my lap. Very soulful, melancholy but lovely in its despair!

'Tis odd, but I actually love winter and thrive in it!! I love the snow, and the wind that wails round the corners....go figure! LOL

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Sheila. Winter for me is a fickle time, there are times I love that cozy closed in feeling but there are those other times when it feels endless and even hopeless. I always appreciate your reviews.

[Angi]

Oh Blue, I can see the fog of breath rise from the mountains of down. Everything is blue and silver-tinged in this room. The humming at the end ties it all together. This is so sad and lonely. Beautifully wrenching. Angi~

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Angi. I appreciate that you were able to feel this.

[Gleb Zavlanov]

A very chilling, mysterious write. Just like Angel, I felt a sort of sadness creep inside me. Once again, you continue to make free verse much more exciting for me! Another great write.

[icelandicblue]

i am flattered by your kind review. Thanks so much.

[Gleb Zavlanov]

It was my pleasure

[Angel]

I feel a February chill in this write, Anne. It seeps into my soul, and makes me unutterably sad...

[icelandicblue]

I'm trying to ward off the winter blues that haven't even arrived yet! Thanks for reading Angel.