Category: Winter
NIGHT SHADOWS FALL COLDLY
Night falls upon the lowly, as bright lights fade and shadows creep right before they slumber. Slowly, they fight their weary eyes to sleep and morning sits in vigil, silent; still. Winter’s moon and stars align at will, warning midnight sprites upon the hill that soon their lights will die, become nil.
Day will pass in its allotted time, while hay made as the sun shines, lingers. May the world know night’s toils in this rhyme, saying all that a heart desires. Fingers curl to grasp the cold and darkened shroud, frost descends to cover lovers avowed. Hurl the pall so all can call out loud, kissed by winter’s shadow so endowed.
moon set horizon
vanishes as mourning comes
night’s death brings on day
(C) Walter J Wojtanik – 2018
dVerse Poets Pub – Habun Monday: Winter Moon (Fuyu No Tsuki)
WHEN THE FIRST SNOWFLAKES FALL
Muted skies viewed through saddened eyes,
searching for the hope of spring in autumn’s dying days.
She lies on the couch staring through the blinds,
slats of a vision broken. No words spoken, only sighs,
a rebuke to the muted skies. Days pass a month
at a time and I am a mime for her brave front.
Winter approaches, and encroaches on our solitude;
a rude intrusion. The wind whispers her warning,
a woeful lament sent as a harbinger call. A moment
shared when the first snowflakes fall.
© Walter J. Wojtanik – 2016
Poetic Asides November Chapbook Challenge – Day 23: WHEN_____
ANTICIPATING SPRING
Hidden in forbidden slumber
under the slew of snow and ice.
Merely weeks away the day that Spring
appears we’ll cheer and revel
in celebration, joy will be unbridled
when it decides to come. One-by-one
the days pass, slow not fast
and each in question. Any mention
of flurries and freezing leaves me
cold. I’m getting to old for this.
These are the waitings in which
we’ve been partaking. There’s no
mistaking, Spring is taking
it’s sweet old time!
© Walter J. Wojtanik, 2015
Phoenix Rising Poetry Guild – The Reason For Rhyme: Different Strokes; Different Folks
WHITHER GOEST SPRING?
Winter holds animus.
She refuses to depart
to allow Spring to start.
We languish in her grip,
slipping on her icy floor
& more snow than we’ve needed.
We’ve pleaded for an end,
offering to send her
on the vacation of choice.
But inside our heads, her voice;
a sinister laugh and taunt
and howling winds that haunt
and toss us, to boss us
into cowering here
where it should be flowering.
Whither goest Spring?
Come prove you don’t hate us
and end your hiatus.
© Copyright Walter J Wojtanik – 2014
CRISP AND CLEAR
The sun shines,
an anomaly in the frigidity
the January skies offer.
Snow, blanketed and pristine,
untouched by any muddy thaw.
The winds are brisk yet
not nearly as biting.
Still inviting a dance
in winter’s wild waltz.
Days from now her return
will be vile and virulent;
hell bent on reminding
that winter leaves
when it wants to.
Looks are deceiving;
the sun shines!
POEM STARTING WITH A LINE FROM ROGER McGOUGH
The trouble with snowmen…
A snowman with “appendages”
is rather quite HOT,
until he gets hot
and then, he is not!
© Copyright Walter J. Wojtanik – 2013
First line taken from “The Trouble With Snowmen” by Roger McGough
Written for MIZ QUICKLY’S IMPROMPTU POETRY – Day 25 “Poem starting with a line…”
STALEMATE
Winter’s grip extends
long after Spring stakes her claim.
Snows and rains battle;
precipitation confused,
each refusing to relent.
© Copyright Walter J. Wojtanik – 2013
Written for NaPoWriMo 2013 – Day 11 (Tanka)
THROUGH THE EYES OF A POET'S HEART 
at first just a turn of the calendar page.
It seems always a matter of survival.
And although winter’s bite remains at this stage,
Spring will rise at last to conquer her rival.
The moderation of her warmth will quell its rage,
and winter’s memory will be trivial.
In the gentle breath of Spring we will engage.