Come Before Winter

Come Before Winter

Do your best to come
Before winter.
Before brittle leaves
Spread the forest floor.
Before winds scour
The hard earth
And the slanting rays
Of a winter sun
Blur the land.

Come before I gather wood

To warm our bed
And the rag rug
Where the dog sleeps.

Come before my heart aches
In the old way
When I knew the depth
And breadth of loneliness.

Come before I must lay alone
In the restless dark
Listening to the sighs
Beneath my eves.

Do your best to come

Before winter.
Before snows pile
Against my door
And the earth sleeps.
Come quickly
Before my empty arms
Forget your form
And my hollow heart
Whispers its despair.