Winter Dreams

A little wizened man    
caught lightning on his tongue
and put it in jars
with copper keys               
and let it sing
in branches green
to light
the winter night
and keep the dark at bay.
And his fragile fingers    
hooked dragonflies on threads
and placed them on stones
with spinning spoons             
and let them dance
on river beds
to still
the winter chill
and keep the warm of day

His bony ancient hands    
grew fiddle ferns in pots
and caught their scent
like new found books
and hid those notes
on rooftop slates
to bide
the winter's tide
and keep the cold away.
His gentle tiny thumbs  
made puzzle dolls from leaves
and dressed their charms
with soft moss shoes
and tucked them in
the children's beds
to lose
the winter's blues
and deepest shades of grey.

And when at last the dawn
broke gentle night in waves
and sent it to sleep
with lazy stars
and let it strip
the morning sky
to still
the winter's spell
and midnight's lengthy stay,
his ancient nodding head
shook merry words to all
and told them to sing
in single voice
and let it ring
like silver bells
to bring
the winter king
and usher Christmas day