Winter (part 11): Winter's Darkest Hour

Author: Stephen W. Cote

On the wings of a cloud

Fresh, crystal-blue elation - whimsical ecstacy

Nerve endings tingle - romantic fantasy

Newborn breeze blowing down, down, down

Phantasmagoric spears of sunlight pierce the ground

Cold, precision war engines march in tune

Steaming crimson-tinctured life - sodium sanity

Battling, bleeding and believing - mortal comedy

Baths of sunlight start to shine, shine shine

Spring whistles a tune

On the wings of a cloud

Under spring leaves of the trees

Golden, silk-green blankets - fairytale romance

Love kisses and tickles - salvation at last

Impregnating pine needles swirl around, round, round

Mortal memories and dreams fertilize the ground

Heartless, inhuman corporals call cadence

Priests pass last penance - forked-tongued forgiveness

Historical ink splatters - glory's righteousness

Fallen widowers remind their wives to live, live, live

Spring muses a cadence

Under spring leaves of the trees

On the wings of a cloud

Prismatic, rainbow-laden mist - Heavenly vision

Spines shiver and shim - exodus mission

Fading lives murmer save, save, save

When rigor clutches our hearts we know we're in the grave

The sole white dove flies overhead

Grisly, shattered remains - aching breaths

Steepled hands praying - final requests

Our last three words are 'I', 'Love', and 'You'

Spring makes its peace with the dead

On the wings of a cloud