simonhlilly

SNOWON THE MOUNTAIN

Snow on the mountain.

When will fools be silent?

When will the wise speak out?

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Snow on the mountain.

Raucous sparrows

Wake a fragile sun.

.

Snow on the mountain.

An empty train crosses the valley,

Keeping its promises.

.

Snow on the mountain.

Cold wind knocks on every door

Seeking shelter.

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Snow on the mountain.

Murmuring flocks

Sheltering the newborn.

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Snow on the mountain.

The broken tree

Still with new shoots.

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Snow on the mountain.

The coal-house latch

Burns cold.

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Snow on the mountain.

It is always the clever ones

That save us, then destroy us.

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Snow on the mountain.

Blackthorn in the valley.

War is never far enough away.

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This piece consciously echoes an Early Medieval Welsh poem that begins each stanza with the same line. It also has a flavour of a haiku sequence. It was written in early Spring this year.