two shadows look as one

winter is for skating in the dark, in the quiet
passing the thoughts and pictures, the memories
life of the mind reflecting
the ice and snowdrifts

there is no stillness, here
save the freeze
but even that gives and takes
a life of its own

loneliness is abolished, there
are no ghosts, no darkness that cannot be lit
fleeting
as the crack of dawn, faster than
breaking ice

solitude reigns over the communion
of naked trees and a solid sky
over beings made with water and air

no fear of birds crying in the night
lo, they only encourage
keep going

the message never spoken
only heard, is what
what makes us
all unite