My Winter Rose

We lived
in paradise,
you + I
where tropical birds sang
sweet melodies in fruit trees,
freshly painted sunsets hung
nightly over the waters,
+ the tiniest of sea shells rolled
in with the tide
but one day, I lifted
my gaze to the sun-kissed
sky, only to find
a sullen grey
cold
clouds
krept
+
creeped
into
our
comfort
+ released
a frozen
flood
our paradise had never
known a winter--birds' serene song silenced,
frosted fruit trees trapped
in cold time, sunset swirls succumbed
to sudden darkness, wistful waters frozen
mid-wave
there were
no more tiny sea shells,
just
sheets
of
ice
but you bloomed
as the sky
continued
to
fall
I gazed
at you, drawn
with desperation
to the light
of your firey hue, setting
the snowflakes ablaze,
sparking as
they fell
tears
from
fear
froze
fast
down my
face
as I
fell
to the
frozen
earth
my spirit hovered
there, in + out
of nightmares, of life--only opening
my eyes to see
you
still
safely
standing
strong
it's now day
347 + I escaped
a nightmare to
feel a little light
on my frozen
face
I opened
my eyes to your
stem
reaching
high
for the sun
I believe our Spring
has finally
come
soon
I'll see
the tiny seashells
again
+ I'll collect
them with
you