you are rightfully so very tired

of the season that you’re in,

branches barren and leaves

dormant for far, far too long.

 

and all you want is a bit of

springtime sun to filter through,

to warm those limbs, give

solace from the wretched chill.

 

–and let me say that i have empathy

extreme for this–

 

but i wish also to remind you soft

that winter is a season of much

progress indeed.

 

that while appearance is not

given of much beyond survival,

this is the time when roots grow

deep into soil, gathering nutrients

 

for the season to come.

accumulating goodness,

storing lifegiving water away

for warmer, but drier days ahead.

 

and while unpleasant, the tree

would not be prepared to bud

and blossom into leaves and bear

all kinds of delicious fruit

 

were it not for this season cold.  

so, keep on surviving. know that

this itself is victory. be assured

that this feeling of nakedness to

 

the world around does not mean

that you are not producing all kinds

of good and valuable things that just

need the change of season to flourish

 

bold. you have not seen the seasons

change as often as i have yet,

but as long as the earth keeps on

spinning–springtime always comes.

 

i will promise you this.

 

Heather Pound 2023

Photo by Fabrice Villard on Unsplash