Times Slows

The mellow music of the cello 

keeps time to the flicker 

of our candle, the undulating 

flame a reminder of the sun, 

the fire of our closest star.

I am overwhelmed by a sense

of remoteness in the gray

of this return of winter,

a bleakness that feels heavy,

that reminds me of all the pain

the sunshine makes more tolerable —

what is only a mist in spring

seems an oppressive shattering

in winter, what is only a cloud

in summer seems a engulfing

fog in this coldest season,

and I find the taste of memory 

leans to bitter in the chill and frost 

of a frozen February, but I am 

comforted by the warmth

of an unending joy in this 

contented, season-less, grace-filled 

faith that I hold like a candle

withstanding any cold.

—C.L. Fisher, February 2021

Unless otherwise indicated, all content, including writing and images, are the work of C.L. Fisher and may not be copied, used, or distributed without permission.