Winter Eve Poem by Ilari Rahja

Silent, as snow floats.
Shattered, its flakes.
Hanging in the air.
Their delayed flicker and fall.

Beside a steaming river.
Slow and dreary, it flows.
Its depths immeasurable.
Darkened by nightfall.

A few frozen flowers.
Upon its surface adrift.
Disappear into distance.
Shiver, in the wind.

In the gloom extending.
Ever longer winter shadows.
Leaves wither and fall.
Vanish, into the mist.

As silence prevails.
Shadows gain their strength.
Forms waving, reflecting.
Against purple sky.

Then, within its call.

Snake River! You change.
From white to gray.
Purple yields.
To air turning black.

Ether dotted by stars.
White underneath.
Stillness is reached.
A world, sculpted.

In black-and-white.
Beauty frozen in time.
Thus preserved.
In a universe of fright.

Cold and flight.
Extremity shows.
Still mirror, of ponds.
Yet, the river is.

Does nothing - But flows.
Fumes and steams.
Its vapor rising.
Falling frozen.

Onto the ground.
Forever, it streams.
Disappears into distance.
Transcending this world.

Our views of peace.
Tranquility...

With an ominous flow.
Contrast, mystery.
It intrigues me - Taunts me!
Invites me within.

Darkened forms all around, I fall.
Float like a leaf - Shiver-A-white...