Skeletons Of Winter

Through skeletons of winter tree limbs

Seldom seen sunlight seeps in and my breathing deepens

I stand, swaying with this arbory army

Shoulder to shoulder like soldiers protecting the ground under me

Surrounding the perimeter, the sounds of the river

Thistle draws its thorn like a quiver

Careful precautions in preparation for an enemy

That I brought along, kept, pent up in me

A mind resistant to silencing

Wiley, resilient, resourceful and quite conniving

But with some slight of hand and sly convincing

I can always get him to give in to me

We all win in this sweet surrendering

Peace found in this pristine unfettering

Mind made clean by uncluttering

Clouded and clogged with worry and things

Carried away by clouds and chickadee wings

And

With a wink

You see,

I think

We never were prepared to fight

Arms in the air

Unloaded, made light

Let too

Your cares

Take that flight