Upon a Winter's Eve

[D.F.Russell]

In the quickening depth
of winter's cold, frozen breath,
when time more lingers than flies,
Jackals of black soot and flames
break from chimney stack and chains,
to prowl the glowering sky.

The grinning Buglies, I'm told,
become ever so bold
and lurk near swings at the park;
Where beasts, red in tooth and claw,
search for tenderlings to gnaw
and run hurdy-gurdy through the dark.

Creeping through forest and stream
comes the oviparous Sleen
seeking a warm home for its young.
And your hair, my tremorous youth,
though it seems quite uncouth,
is the nest from which they'd be slung.

Trees, who in summer so dear,
become things to be feared,
their naked branches raking the sky.
And the birds that they shelter
whistle Helter-Skelter...
and gaze hungrily at your eyes.

So, at winter's day ending
upon the moon's portending,
forego your mischief and come inside.
But, step softly my child,
though the fire seems mild
its temperance may not always be scried.

Raleigh, NC

[wmirnm]

Are you published somewhere?

[D.F.Russell]

In a small collection published in Japan in Japanese and English, several years ago.

[John Wertz]

Hi D.F. Thanks for the kind words. Enjoyed your poem as well. I thought it had a T.S. Elliot thing going on; which I go for sometimes but with not so much success.

[D.F.Russell]

Thank you. I'm flattered. I've always thought that was more Lewis Carrol than T.S. Elliot, though

[Electron.John]

Great job DF! What a rich and complex poem. So much is packed in there that one must read it several times and still the taste does not fade. Love the lines:

"Trees, who in summer so dear,
become things to be feared,
their naked branches raking the sky."

Thanks for sharing.

[D.F.Russell]

Thank you. I had Strunk&White pounded into me, so I tend towards brevity

[Electron.John]

"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that he make every word tell."
—"Elementary Principles of Composition", The Elements of Style

[ICapt2869]

Sehr schön! Danke

[D.F.Russell]

Thank you for saying so... and thank you google translate!

[Sarah]

Amazing images!

[slyle]

Actually it reminds me of Ted Hughes style. The heaviness of it.

[D.F.Russell]

Hughes was a very bright and very damaged man, and, like Sylvia Plath, he could express it in his writing. But death and anger seemed to follow him. I'm more a painter than a writer, but I thank you for your words. Since you said you liked Hughes, I'll post something that's a bit more in that vein.

[GreenAndBlue]

Is the green painting one of yours?

[D.F.Russell]

Yes, the painting was done by me. It's a watercolor on very hard bristol paper.

[Boe Burke]

You are blessed! Thanks for sharing your gift. Now we are blessed!

[D.F.Russell]

Thank you for your kind words; but it's been my experience that as more is given, more is taken. Oftentimes, I'd happily be less "blessed."

[PhoenixRising]

I would have loved to see Gahan Wilson illustrate this!

[D.F.Russell]

Thank you. I would have, also

[Aenigma]

I love the image of soot-jackals. Though some of your language (and perhaps a Gorean reference?) gives this poem, yes, a Carrollean Jabberwocky flavor, it remains uniquely yours.