A streak of pale yellow and slivers of red against the darkening sky.
Cape mountains turn to black — silhouettes rising into night.
The smell of woodsmoke and home cooking drifts above the hill,
pulling me back to evenings just like this:
a chilly start to the night,
a gentleman strolling homewards in the twilight.
Winter stirs unexpected feelings:
wrapping your arms around your body when it gets cold,
hot chocolate warming you up late at night,
friends in faraway places.
The joie de vivre of summer gone.
Chilled bones push you toward warmth —
the forgotten fire within begins to stir.
A world of fire and ice.
We know not where we go —
into the cauldron,
deep into the frozen wasteland.
In winter, we know our friends:
the ones who invite us in for a hot meal on a cold, rainy night,
the ones who message us to keep warm,
the ones who listen through our ups and downs.
Winter brings time to reflect,
to pursue creative endeavours,
to go deeper within —
to find our true, unwavering strength.
Chesney Bradshaw
