(Monday morning, on the roof of an Oslo construction site.)

~

Seagull. Filthy peace flag screaming
His own name upon the city.

It is I! Eater of scraps, leaver of
Droppings!

Sword beak, dagger tallons!
Anti-raven! White blood cell of

Your airborne bloodstream.
The skies would be half a chess

Board in my absence!
I sit on the rooftop drinking water,

Listening to him echo between
Tired buildings.

Norwegian city morning.
Sunny and cold.

I watch the red of mist muffled light
On his wings as he soares towards

The bay for his fifth breakfast.
Today will be an interesting day,

I whisper to my soul as I empty the
Bottle and stand up.

A conductor tapping his baton against
His note stand, raising hands and an

Eyebrow to the orchestra.
Get your Monday in tune, and the week

Will follow accordingly.
Seagull. Filthy peace flag.

Declaring himself victorious
With his every forceless breath.

~

I know some days are dark
And you curl up to hide from this world
That seems to not understand

You shiver with cold and feel like the clouds have come down from the sky
Just to swallow you whole

But I believe you will find light
You will find the energy and courage to lift your head back up
And you will see what I see

A brilliant and talented and loving girl
Who has an important life to lead
Who will make her way and make a difference



First you need to believe in the light
Then believe in yourself
And believe that many of us are here waiting for you

We want to help where we can
We want to dance with you in the light
So please be strong, and carry on

Those clouds will lift and you will raise your head
You will feel the warmth of the sun and the love of those around you
And light will shine on you

Most beautiful of all is that this light will shine from within you as well
You will share yourself again
Because you will know that you are worth sharing

new light comes early -
low and uncertain
- cold and unsurely

slowly

winter is waning -
fading her darkness
away

- begins a new day.

Are you ever so cold that it startles you to touch your own skin?  A cold so deep that you feel it in your bones, and so complete that you shiver and quake.  And all you want is to go home.

You try to put on extra socks or mittens or scarves, but the truth is that you can't get warm until you are home. With those who love you.  With 4 legged friends who look at you with unbridled adoration, or with family who surround you with their rumbling white noise,   You find yourself wrapped the blanket of the familiar .

Home is not a perfect place, but is the place where I am warm.  Where I can finally thaw the chill of the outside world, think warm thoughts, and curl up inside my own dreams.