Sonnet Xiv

Another year has come; the old one past, its stored memories gathered in like grain into the heart's treasury. Let no bane there enter to destroy. Again thou hast protected me against the fearful blast of winter's barren cold and bitter rain, a coat you gave to me of love unfeigned; a shield against the stormy surges, vast; a cloak to wrap around your turtle dove, like Hannah brought to Samuel each year in celebration of the birth of love, the promise of Jehovah held most dear to her whose prayer prompted heaven above: thus covered, I embrace another year. Copyright, 1987, Faye Gibson