Chilled Dawn

She is shadowed by fuzzy cobwebs of a morning without coffee,
while dust motes mingle with the mold of time.
Gazing out to the yard, through dingy glass, and fog, 
into a dismal January, she hopes to catch a glimpse of the paper boy.
He travels through rain, sleet or snow, how could he understand, 
(this teen-aged Paul Revere), that in this decrepit old house, 
she is longing for a sign of youth? It has been a weary night, watching an old woman hang on by threads of life, that had worn thin years ago. 
Watching and waiting, while cold winds blew and snow was falling,  
and death was hoping to make a house call.
Any diversion, life being lived,... one brief eclipse of life in motion would be a relief.
To observe him toss the news into the sky like a Frisbee... not a care in the world
How would that feel...has she ever known? Has anyone ever been so young?
She thinks she may go mad with death and dying, with weariness, with waiting.
She suddenly shivers from a dreaded draft of frigid air, slithering in,
like a sneaky, uninvited ghost, slinking in around the rim. 

       nor'easter winds                                                roll top shoe box...
      splinter the silence..               --                     debutante' caught in amber
        a cataract view                                                   frozen sepia  

Grabbing a handful of a thread-bare doily,  she polishes the cold glass, 
rubbing vigorously in circles against the grime, 
making figure eights, in spite of frozen, stiff, fingers.  
Satisfied, that she has a decent view of the blanketed yard,
and can see clearly where the muddy, gravel driveway,
bends gradually, curving to mate with the snow banked road,
at last, she spies the old Jeep coming, and watches with automated eyes, 
yet, with some expectation, and strange excitement. 
Then, as she might have guessed,
the teenager drives hurriedly by, barely slowing down, tossing the news,
and leaving her gaze and her thoughts, splattered by dark murky water, 
while the slinging gravel that has been pitched into the sky, by his screeching tires,
falls like the pieces of the old woman's lonely life upon the pristine snow. 




__________________________________________
For Deb's Contest: "Mix It Up"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
February 12, 2013 at 6:58 AM
Very descriptive and expressive work..Enjoyed reading your winning lines...Congrats...Sara
A   Avatar
February 7, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Carrie, , Congratulations on your winning "mixed up poem." Have yourself a nice day~ :-) xox~PD
Squyres Avatar
February 6, 2013 at 8:19 AM
I like a poem with depth..and your prose has it in spades !! Fabulous haiku...both of them...tucked in at just the right spot within the verses. Congrats on a well deserved win !!
Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
February 6, 2013 at 3:45 AM
More congrats and well deserved Carrie xx
Guzzi Avatar
February 5, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Now you my dear gave me a wee bit more trouble LOL, that second..haiku almost sank you but the over all content was so heart wrenching! How could an old woman such as I not react? [Please stick a cut marker on the roll top haiku] Congrad's Carrie dear..on to Spring. Light & love
Richards Avatar
February 5, 2013 at 6:36 PM
oops.....overlooked that one!! Will fix it promptly! :)
Lamoureux Avatar
February 5, 2013 at 4:25 PM
Congrats on wonderful win!
Lamoureux Avatar
January 28, 2013 at 8:44 AM
Wonderful and sad imagery. I enjoyed reading your story and being caught up in the emotion. The sign of a skilled writer.
Ober Avatar
January 23, 2013 at 7:20 AM
Wow. You have outdone yourself with this one. I love this contest because it gives us a chance to see our poets write prose. Fantastic job!!
Sivey Avatar
January 22, 2013 at 9:37 PM
This is quite impressive my friend! I am enthralled by the incredible nature of this poem and how you described the old woman in this write is exquisite! I really enjoyed reading this wondrous piece, Great Work!!
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