Wandering

Darkness leaks from the heavens

and gently hangs, like a winter coat, above the ivory earth,

the crunch of china crystals echo beneath sodden shoes

cracking the ebony sky,

each stride further illuminates

tiny diamonds sewn into the velvet flesh of the floating midnight.

The wanderer grips the walls of her muffled castle

pulling the padded battlements ever closer

to shun icy advances,

glittering lights dancing above are enough to momentarily distract

but Winter is a cruel mistress

and her minions soon drag regret before the hasty wayfarer,

Jack Frost preys on patches

woollen turrets could not cover

and vulnerable skin glows a feverish scarlet…

If one can suppress the imminent tingling of cold

and the definite lure of a runny nose,

then,

coal tinted crusades await the insomniac

sleepless enough to brave a frosty ramble.