River of Night
River of Darkness by Jay Gidwitz
The river of the dark night
overflows its banks
crossing the highway
and rising in the yard
minutes and hours
tick by
one by one
never ending
drops of blackness
spatter on my windows
a stream of shade
slides under the door
the night is long
and so very dark
wet and cold
in the rising tide of winter
will you swim with me
in the blessed darkness
will you baptize me
with your cold fire
dampen my flame
quench my thirst
this night—
this long dark night
wait with me
here in this boat
of darkness cradled
in the river of the dark night
Pamela Olson, 12/21/08
In honor of winter solstice
and the prompt “Winter’s Day”
Artwork by Jay Gidwitz
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