winter wonderland

.
sky bruised purple gray
snow gilding trees and branches
winter wonderland
.

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chronic pain
happy holidays

When the truth hurts

Safety is a lie
we tell ourselves
to sleep at night
and to get out of
bed in the morning.
Like most self-
deceptions, it hurts us
when it shatters and
lets out the truth.

wind and snow

wind rises
snow tumbles off branch
silent snap

"The Lady of Shalott" by William Holman Hunt

"I am half sick of shadows," said
            The Lady of Shalott. 

-Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I am glad it is December,
that the awful November
picture on my calendar has
flipped, that December's picture
is one I have seen in person.

Few calendar prints can capture
a painting, so while I am glad
the November goats are gone, I long
for the real thing whole
and complete and beautiful.

But this is a lie because
I love this smaller test
painting by the master's
own hand since he was
mostly blind by then and
couldn't paint the full
canvas himself.

I prefer this panel
because I remember
how the unraveling
threads in it sliced
through the picture, so
sharp the air between us
was nearly bleeding.

January thaw

the wind

sweeps leaves

into neat piles

in corners

Winter Walking Wisdom

1
At times when there is
no way around the shadows
walk through them quickly

2
When there is no way
around shadows in your path
walk through them boldly

Minnesota Welcomes Me Back

High of 8 degrees.  Well played, Minnesota.