the great silence

i cleave to myself, o’erwhelmed
on a stuttered trail of dreams
holding this space ‘tween the firs
’til in snowfall i dissolve
fallen to the flurry of time

often have i bethought myself
of the needle wreath she placed there
(’twas as fine a crown as any)
she told me she loved me for the last time
& i’ve waited since for renewal
for the gladdening of another spring

the older i get, the younger i feel
& predictably, the less i know
tho’ i am sad, i’m very much alive
hoar frost my heart & beard
& strangely featherlight this weight of years

no longer will i trace my beginnings
nor do i care to know my end
hereon this wintry canvas
i’ll remember her to aught that hear
& bethink the ones left behind
then in silence wish that all be well

i am ready to move on
this my bearing, for better or ill
‘neath the greylag’s flurry for more time
within the great white yawn ‘tween wooded tines
a world sadly devoid of her charms

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

16 thoughts on “the great silence”

  2. I really enjoyed The Great Silence, Tony. Your use of winter imagery to explore aging, loss, and time is both powerful and subtle. The way you balance holding on and letting go creates a reflective, peaceful tone that resonates deeply.

    As someone who regularly reviews poetry, I found your poem’s approach to memory and transformation particularly moving. I’ve shared the link to your poem on my review blog, and here’s the link to my review.

    Looking forward to reading more of your work.

    Liked by 2 people

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