Winds of Winter

My teeth chattering, ears numb and lips cracking.
The wind howling, tears frozen. I wrap myself in layers of loneliness against the winter's cold.
My heart hardened in an icy mold.

Will they laugh if they saw the true me?  
Should I let them comfort me?
Would they cry if they saw me crying?
So why does nobody mourn as I sit here dying?
       
Then a ray of light pierced the mist.
As she came along to bring colour into my world.
The harbringer of Spring to melt my snow.            
And leave a handprint on a new heart.

Summer came soon enough with footprints in the sand.
Twinkles in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
The air rung with laughter that sounded like forever.          
As waves kissed our legs to make goodbye seem a forgotten word.
I never saw a palace, yet she made me feel a king.    
In my darkest hour, she made me bling.
In my finest nights, she was my dreams.

"I will never forsake you, my love
I swear it on those things eternal
I am your lady and you are my man
I will be by your side forever and ever."

But forever didn't survive the first sting of Autumn's chill.  
As I reach by my side and my fingers close around nothing.
I look over a shoulder to see waves wash away proof of her presence.
After all the laughter I'm back where the tears began.
I stand all alone once again, lost to myself.
Where's my sun, my moon, my world?
Is love the answer or just an attempt at the question?

I look ahead at the endless stretch of sand.
And my palms itch in memory of another's hand.
As I take the first step to hope fortune favours the bold.
And somehow I no longer dread the coming cold.


By Palle Oswald