The Season of Truth

A cold wind.
Whatever was here has fled inside
or has curled up in a corner somewhere 
out of sight and gone to sleep.
Footpaths are tiled in the wet,
skeletal remains of leaves 
and tree trunks have begun to wear
their gray winter coat of lichen.

There is an honesty in the landscape,
the scaffolding that holds form 
together is no longer concealed 
by a camouflage of color, the eye
is confronted by what lies beneath. 
Cover withers away to bare ground,
the earth takes breath, bathes
in the chilly glow of a winter sun.

I also come to this place, 
to this stark season of truth 
and see myself stripped back
to the bones and sinews of me.
The wind blows through the same
vacant spaces, unpicks the pretense
to let a cold light shine through.
I don't like what I see.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Wolf Avatar
June 24, 2024 at 8:06 PM
'There is an honesty in the landscape' -- my favorite line among many others in this write of bludgeoning integrity. ~ Gershon
Lawless Avatar
June 7, 2024 at 6:16 AM
ah, the torment of "the unexamined life" being examined
Willason Avatar
June 14, 2024 at 9:06 PM
Quick dip then out of this space if I could manage it....
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