just as i have shared a couple other poems throughout the year this week i decided that it was time for another! partly because i have gotten to the point where all i want to do is snuggle up in bed as winter is here. well, not according to the calendar here, but in my book it is. the leaves on the trees have already fallen to the ground while the days are shorter and colder. oh and we can’t forget about the fact that last night was the first snowfall and although it wasn’t much in alaska terms it counts. the other part of why i decided a poem was the way to go was because it has been a long year and coming up with weekly posts is no easy task, but with seeing some recent poetry while scrolling through instagram i thought why not try to challenge myself and write a piece. so here it goes:

november 18, 2020

abruptly i wake to the ringing of my alarm that sits across the room waiting to be picked up and turned off, but for a few seconds i don’t move from my position, cocooned between my white bamboo sheets. it’s dark and oh how would i love to sleep even for a few minutes more. disrupted by the noise with the ring, ring, ring that bellows from the speaker sleep is but a memory.

i get up, walk over, turn the alarm off, then yank it from the charger and head back to bed. 5 more minutes. then 10. it’s so warm and peaceful here in my room, while outside turns from fall to winter. a thin layer of snow coats the ground, like powdered sugar on a donut. it’s so gentle. so inviting. oh how my inner child wants there to be more. enough to build snowman and sled and have snow days again.

yet, i still am reminded of the piercing chill that seeps into my bones the moment i step outside as i head to work. even so, i get up again, head to the window where i pull the blinds. still dark.

and so slowly heading to the bathroom. sleep still in my eyes as they adjust to the bright light

i think

oh winter

my friend or foe?

how beautiful and daunting you are

a.l