Sonnet for the New Moon of January

Hail, bright crescent, reflecting on thin ice,
which by slow advance has scalded water;
yet sudden sun bursts through, to melt all trace,
so gale-churned wave spindrifts without fetter.
Here were earthworms, crawling in open air;
robins did chase them, across gray-brown grass.
Hawk’s talons blur by, but clever is hare:
he’s safe in his warren, where brambles mass.
Softness and suppleness both flee away;
both earth and sky cut stiff and sharp with chill.
Yet night stars dance, nimbler than cold, clear day,
twinkling though owl-eye paints them standing still.
Birch and magnolia wait, though ripe to bloom—
veiled brides waiting for spring, as for a groom.

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4 comments

  1. I really really like these images:

    Softness and suppleness both flee away;
    both earth and sky cut stiff and sharp with chill.

    I visualise night, with a sky water-coloured indigo and black paper cut-out trees and distant pin-point stars.

  2. I really really like these images:

    Softness and suppleness both flee away;
    both earth and sky cut stiff and sharp with chill.

    I visualise night, with a sky water-coloured indigo and black paper cut-out trees and distant pin-point stars.

    • Thanks. I’m glad you like this one. It’s one of my favorites.

      But actually… whichever one I’ve just finished — that’s usually my favorite. 🙂

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