deepundergroundpoetry.com
Promise in the Storm
(the night before Christmas)
While quarried from a century of stone,
The cabin sits low with its mortared brick,
To brace against the north wind ice-bound flow.
From days gone past in nature’s dark unknown.
The memory of man, the glacier fields
Of deepest long ago where they had roamed.
To settle the scarred land, man and his mate,
Had made for themselves a wilderness home
Away from his village far to the south.
A week by sled from the place of their birth,
While eager to challenge as was a rite,
The god-smack beauty of a sleeping earth.
The howl of wolves is music,
The sleet and rain is their song.
The midnight sun that guides him
As Huskies race the ladened sled from here,
A town across the inlet, where his chums
Are gathered there to ring In Christmas cheer.
They stand outside and talk about the lights
That hang on meager poles between the lines,
The few are sober can’t afford to fight.
And so the lights of red and blue and green
That decorate the one Main Street in town,
Will shine till New Year’s Eve then taken down.
The men disperse to go back in the bar,
It starts to snow and now they’ll miss their friend.
They won’t be going home, it’s way too far.
The parka hood pulled tight, the goggles clog,
Begins to flurry ice, wild from the gusts,
He thinks of her through sounds of barking dogs.
She tends to him, the stock, their frontier home,
Where soon the promise of their firstborn son,
Who hasn't introduced himself, their own.
She smiles; the image of her man: he’s where
He’s like a bear, he strides in from a storm,
Snow in his beard and windblown ginger hair.
Eternal nights and northern lights demur
To bless their cabin nest while she’s asleep,
Her nakedness wrapped warm in softest fur.
The frigid wind bemoans out in the sleet.
A fire glows and flickers from the hearth,
Their little one is safe, tucked in her dream.
A full moon keeping watch while overhead,
Will flood the frozen landscape with its light.
While miles away he’s restless for her bed.
Her ginger man forgets the cold and stir,
To call and urge his Huskies through the night
And head true north to spend Christmas with her.
Preview piece: photo by Pete Wongkongkathep
Published 21st Nov 2018
Author's Note
Entered in the Deep competition “The Night Before Christmas Story/poetry EVENT!”, hosted by Zazzles.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 11
reading list entries 3
comments 14
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21st Nov 2018 6:19pm
21st Nov 2018 6:27pm
Why thank you, Stanhoven, my goodness, how thoughtful of you. And for the honor of your RL.
Jade🌃
Jade🌃
Anonymous
21st Nov 2018 7:36pm
This is f'ing immense Jade. I applaud.
21st Nov 2018 7:52pm
21st Nov 2018 7:39pm
21st Nov 2018 7:56pm
Aw thank you, Lil’D, I’m glad to know, and oh I would’ve loved a trip to Iceland.
Anonymous
21st Nov 2018 8:06pm
Oh my God, Jadey!!
Seriously, that was beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
I was hanging on every word, and what beautiful language usage.
Sorry other entries, but that's going to be tough to top.
Fantastic Jadey! I mean it.
Matthew.
Zazzles, I love your name, but give that medal to Jadey!...and she wanted to bequeath it to me...so, thanks.
Seriously, that was beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
I was hanging on every word, and what beautiful language usage.
Sorry other entries, but that's going to be tough to top.
Fantastic Jadey! I mean it.
Matthew.
Zazzles, I love your name, but give that medal to Jadey!...and she wanted to bequeath it to me...so, thanks.
21st Nov 2018 8:21pm
Anonymous
21st Nov 2018 8:27pm
I'm not sure what those little figures mean, but I hope it's a good thing! LOL.
22nd Nov 2018 3:57am
No worries, dear, it’s all good. And hoping so too will be your Thanksgiving Day. x
21st Nov 2018 8:32pm
this is grate write of man facing hard times in a frozen land
beautifully done
beautifully done
22nd Nov 2018 1:11am
25th Nov 2018 11:24pm
Hearing you read this, I was struck by the grace and wonder. It reminds me of the writings of Jack London, of the Yukon, the Northern Lights and the great frozen north.
An inspired entry!
geoff
An inspired entry!
geoff
26th Nov 2018 8:43am
Thank you, dear Geoff, for enjoying and letting yourself into the story. That’s high praise indeed to be reminded of renown author Jack London’s work. I’m very honored by the reference.
It was indeed an inspiration for me, and I loved fleshing it out.
Jadey x
It was indeed an inspiration for me, and I loved fleshing it out.
Jadey x
