Winter Poem by Suzanne Hayasaki

Close my soul.
Thicken my skin.
Seal my gates.
Let no one in
Who I would not admit.

For the winter creeps.
The devil leaps.
The wicked prowl
The guard dogs howl
My servants stir in the night.

So take flight if you can
Or prepare to stand
Against tyranny
Against hatred
Against fear.

I am here.
I am still.
I am listening.
I am patient.

Let the storm break.
Let the fires rise.
Let brother fight brother
Over nothing that matters.

When all is lost
That was not valued
When all is destroyed
That was not understood
When nothing is left
To be remembered

We will begin again
With the gifts we possess
To build something as fragile
And mystical as wisdom.