Winter's Toast

Disappeared is time for one and all Who leave their footprints by the sea. High winds grab voices as they fall-- Secured in silent memory. Stormy nights like anchors sink To dig and take a-hold And long beyond will form a link Of nights, a chain of love grown cold. Ice hearted she-cats shed blood tears When hidden in their beds And in the night the future’s clear Tho' torn to bitter shreds. Love lost too soon howls hard in pain- Will not lie down and die. Sleepless nights toss on in vain, With time they multiply. When north winds shriek round rocky coasts Screaming winter’s name, By roaring fires survivors toast To ease the loss and blame. Tears are shed for lovers lost And for sweet youth gone by, When the heart still thrummed with hope When twilight kissed night sky. Would we live it all again-- Repeat the joy and ache? Lucky that the choice won’t come By God --our hearts would break. V.Anderson-Throop 2015 Valdez, Alaska