Chikahisa Studio

If winter is going to insist on being winter.

On its brittle frost and its spare days.

On its dark raven nights.

Then I will wear heat and warmth and fire.

And we shall see how cold the wind blows.

Winter winds around us.

Days beginning and ending burrowing under blankets.

Mugs of hot tea wafting swirls of reassurance.

Moving from here to there with intention, with purpose,

In search of warm comforts.

Wrapping ourselves than unwrapping ourselves as we come in from the cold.

The wind bites through my skin.

That last gust might have drawn blood.

And I am shrouded:

My hat is pulled down, my collar is flipped up,

And my scarf is wrapped around and around.

My ears, however,

The tips of my ears

Peek through and they are dazzling and defiant.

Some stones speak to me of winter.

White skies.  Brilliant sun.  Sharp wind.

And the warmth that must by necessity come from within.

Rings are different.

They are not like other pieces of jewelry.

They greet the world first with every handshake and wave.

Good ones become a part of you, their weight familiar and reassuring.

By Kim Addonizio

(an excerpt)

What ever they’ve made of it

they can have.  Today I want

to resolve nothing.

I only want to walk

a little longer in the cold

blessing of the rain.

and lift my face to it.

That is the question.

I’m not going to join a gym.

Or give up chocolate.

Or go to bed earlier.

Or stop drinking coffee.

Or regret spending money on things that don’t last,

like cut flowers and good wine and trips to the beach.

Bring on surprise and serendipity.

Welcome new thoughts, new ideas, new dreams.

Let the New Year come with all I expect

And all that I do not.

I am ready.