WINTER Poetry Reading: Circle of Life, by Alexandra Grant

Performed by Val Cole

POEM:

It’s been a long hot summer
Our work’s been hard each day
Routine is normal in our home
We have no other way

Our mom keeps busy with her kids
Our family’s rather large
She tirelessly tends to us all
She stays at home, fully, in charge

As each of us files out to work
We know our jobs so well
The winter comes sooner this year
Winds carry distinct smells

We live beside a giant cherry tree
She shares her beauty all year long
In spring she sprouts her flowers
She’s lived centuries, roots deep and strong

At spring’s end bearing red fruits
She shares her abundant bounty
Stone fruit, so juicy, sweet tasting
Nothing compares within the county

Summers she offers her shade
Respite from heat and sun
Breezes blow the deep green leaves
Peaceful, rustling sounds can’t be outdone

Our cherry tree at summer’s end
Knows that winter is ahead
Autumn brings her change and undress
Verdancy to orange, yellow and red

I believed her beauty to be, in spring
But I had to think again
Her resplendence in fall
Is far more stunning then

Today her tendrils, almost bare
Wintry gusts rush in bitter cold
Soon, nothing will venture out
Until spring comes to take hold

The family’s hard at work
Preparing for sequester
Gathering and searching for supplies
Not my favorite job, but I’m no protester

Finally finishing our task
Coffers filled for the coming season
Plentitude from summer’s abundance
Preparing for winter’s scarcity for good reason

Having stored back an abundance
Winters will not lack sweet fruit
Cherry tree’s delicious offerings
Life sustaining loot

Each year is lived in routine
Beginnings, endings, the same
Three quarters of the year
Storing sustenance in seasons ’timeframe

In frigid cold, our toil slows down
Only scarceness is found outside
Trees vacant of their leaves, flowers or fruit
Nature sleeps, animals go to hide

Three harsh months life endures
Really not a long time
Spring will come rushing in to bring
New flowers, fruit, and beauty, sublime

Queen, mother begins birthing
New multitudes of young
Proof, indeed the time comes
Reawakening, refreshed, spring has sprung