Winter Conjuring

Church bells muffled on Sunday Whispered almost silent as people glide in to pray Inclement weather conditions toll a long good-bye Blizzards come with mounds of snow on a somber curve The fallen collect themselves inside as worried souls Leaves completely freed from trees become detached Cannibalized by savage storms clawing at their back Long stripped of life they could not last the hour Too weak, crisp, loud, to cover up or hide in quiet Laid naked, bare, lost innocence and mystery devoured Oaks stand like towers emptied of themselves Hollowed out holes by age that grow no more Webbed fingers jut, twisted from the middle In competition with the holly house in white December stretches to the distance warped Trees become skeleton warriors fighting back Howling winds wrapped in Winter sin Blowing south on holiday wishes cold The congregation leans in to sing a carol They fill in spaces made by Christmas conjuring