WHITE MOTHER OF WINTER

1.

Freezing white rain

frosts the helmsman’s

blonde whiskers

mercury and morale plummet

encasing ship and men too soon

the white mother of winter

is calling them home

2.

waters freeze

winds howl

salt beef and fish

lie gently

below

belukha

quietly cuts the

waters edge

arctic fox

cleans up

after everybody

I consider a language

unlike my own

that would teach me

a few things

you consider

wind and ice

current and tide

ice and season

ice and sun

ice and darkness

ice and

my heart melting

©Antonia Small