here's something new. Any ideas for a title?



the deep darkness    in northern lands
mint and rosemary    crack and dry
leaves gather in ruts    no swallows left
to clothe and soothe    windswept trees
we batten doors      inside thick walls
five weeks four weeks    till year's turn
then still the two    coldest months
in moors mountains    islands seas
our small town       its ribbon road
the sub-station    frequently blown
emergency lighting    candles
freezer stores    telephone numbers
email addresses     thoughts wishes
the deep darkness   that never ends

the deep darkness   that never ends
begins to seep    through the people
holed up indoors   we take a walk
out of our street   to the country
we drive through    monochrome days
hoard artichokes    under the ground
collapsed sorrel    on the surface
juniper and fir    water swirls
down black rivers    winter darkness
in northern lands    repetition
wind before snow      after raindrops
robins peck   at the window
a slice of bread   us two alone
the northern lands   in deep darkness


Sally Evans