John Crosby — Hawk of WinterClick on one of the links below to hear John reading the poem:
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Hawk of Winter
winter began its reach
sweeping in with talons of cold
that seized and tortured flesh
sap froze in the cambium of trees
cracking their boneless limbs
in sudden raptor snaps
creatures sought mercy in the depths of their burrows
nearly safe from the rasping breath of the wind
they dreamed of chestnuts warmed by a sun
in sleepy summer visions
in the dream, sisters danced with brothers
and danger was not
they played in pelts the color of cinnamon
racing and chasing on a lacework of branches
in a stand of evergreens
while outside the hawk of winter waited
jpc
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