That day the onset of the nightfollowed shortest daytime lightas winter’s first sun set in a gray sky.Then came blackness after fall.Winter darkness covered all.That night I held your hand and watched you die.And so began the painful startof winter for my damaged heart.I shivered from the chill I felt inside.My soul sank like that last day’s sunbecause I knew our love was done.I felt your fingers cool and then I cried.Per...

I am but a protruding thorn.The only reason I was bornwas to create pain and push life away. I reach to touch a fading sunand think of all the sins I’ve done.I lie beneath the brambles as I pray. The barren hand that I was dealtwas that I simply never feltthe feelings that complete a human heart. That which would make others smilejust bored me after a short while.Love never even had a chance to start. I learned to make he...

“David, is that you? Are you back?” she asked. There was no answer. It was a Red-tailed Hawk that had landed on a branch above. She had heard his wings flutter. She stared up now as she raised her arm, opened her palm, managed a smile and waved. A small celebration of being alive. “Are you after the berries on those brambles, Mr. Hawk?” she asked. Then she said “No, probably not. You’re a meat eater. Sorry if I insulted y...