The Journey to Winter's Road

The colors of autumn and the chill air of approaching winter have begun to work their magic on my summer mind. I love the autumn because of the harvest bounty and because of the wonderful colors. Long brisk walks in chill twilight shadows cast by golden autumn sunsets gives me a sense of peace, yet it points toward the journey's end - not yet visible, but hauntingly and palpably present, just over a distant rise in the road. Reflection and wishful thinking combine to cast the long path into poetry and allow me to sing my song of the journey to Winter's road...

Mick

The Journey to Winter's Road

Spring's Path

At very first step, there was only me -
To leave the warm place, in the pain of light;
On a path to touch, to hear, and to see -
Touch yielding to sound, sound yielding to sight.
A bright, verdant journey begun with youth
And terrors of bright, open, wide human space,
That led to a life-long search, for the truth
About life itself, its source and its place
In the burgeoning world, spread far and wide
Before tender feet and naive brown eyes;
With elsewhere to run, and nowhere to hide,
Under the endless, unlimited skies.

Summer's Meadow

Sofas and coffee shops, green lilac leaves:
A spirit abiding, journeys along
Until a deep longing, tugging at sleeves,
Makes a grand duet of his solo song.
Honey-filled words, and deep-blue longing looks,
Forge a new partnership, pilgrimage, quest...
Deep secrets shared could fill thousands of books,
Yet keeping secrets was probably best.
Under countless suns, shining brilliantly,
Without ever quite understanding why,
The duet produces a progeny;
Sharing the path under bronze summer sky.

Autumn's Trail

Chill golden winds announce harvest's approach,
Daylight has dwindled and shadows appear.
Progeny's paths soon the family's cask broach,
Depart, and in distance soon disappear;
Shriving the chorus of voices so young,
It leaves the duet a sad lonely tune -
Feeling that all of the joy has been sung:
Singing October, remembering June.
Until like fall leaves, blown briskly away,
Vanished in the sea with naught but a sigh;
Solo song echoed across that dark quay.
We parted at twilight, when tide was high.

Winter's Road

Deep in the white drifts that quenched where I stepped,
My fiery purpose now cinder-cold;
Awakened by long-buried fears that slept -
Terrors of uselessness, and growing old
In solitude haunt my long walking dream.
Silent companions for each lonely mile,
Resolute, nameless, and voiceless they scream;
And always behind me, in single file.
Yet, forward through empty whiteness I trudge,
Celebrating each step as victory.
As companions depart, I hold no grudge,
For at the last step, there is only me.

Mick McKellar
October 2007