January 6–12 ❘ Preface

Preface

In winter, it’s easy to feel cut off.
Dark falls early, sinks in like ice.
Wind licks at neck, whips tears
to eyes, leaves ears aching.

Heart pulls into a tight knot
like a child curling up to hide.
Everywhere the world cries out,
offering sure-fire formulas for warmth

or crystalline reasons
for the inevitability of heat death.
Another Voice trickles beneath,
picking up speed

like a thawing creek
in early spring,
like an unlearned boy
on his knees in a grove

praying aloud for the first time
at that point of year when light
begins to return in earnest.

• Read more of my poetry at www.facebook.com/latterdaysaintpoetry

• Contact me at merrijane.rice@gmail.com

• Click here for “Revelations in Context”