This day is cold and dreary,
The angels pouring tears of mourning misery
Upon the corpses of leaves
That slake their former glory into slime
Along the pavements I tread with weariness.

The sky heaves, bruised and swollen,
Rumbles of passing thunder
Fading into the distance
And bearing down as their gigantic waves
Roll full circle to drench
This aching soul once more.

The winter solstice
Is creeping closer,
Drowning ancient observances
And age-old gods in the storms
Of tinsel trimmings and glaring lights.

This peace that should be
Bountiful stores and firelit hearths
Is superceded by idols of fallacy
And ugly spirits that chase the Lovelight away.

The awakening day is
But a leaden mire of writhing creatures,
Homeless, listless, desolate of heart.
They bar my way with ugly sneering
And echo the past from nightmares long galloped.

But I have my lanternlight,
My heartsong,
The flame that sings me through the grey.
For a single kiss on your beloved's forehead
Gives her grace, and strength,
And speed, and light,
And a tingle feathered through her soul
To hold her hand throughout this gloom.