Irene Fick
I was in this room once. It is a difficult room. I left this on the table for you. I hope it helps.
– Richard Siken
The Fragility of Winter
This pale winter light now lingers, elongates
the day. Colorless skies teem with the rites
of snow geese, unfettered, on course. I cross
a vacant beach, follow the trail, behold
the old buck tucked into the brush, wary and still
safe from the hunter’s fire. I seek cool relief
from December’s inferno: blazing reds and greens
a broken family soldered to its myths, fantasies
of faith resurrected for one holy night.
Let me fade into this stripped-down stage
of grays, washed-out whites, let go of the losses
that bring me to my knees, lock me in place.
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The Fragility of Winter, published in April 2025, is available through Broadstone Books. To purchase a copy, go to Broadstonebooks.com. At check-out, use the discount code: POETS24.
The book is also available at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; Bethany Beach Books in Bethany Beach, Delaware; and The Buzzed Word in Ocean City, Maryland.