And Winter will wrestle its way
Carolyn Hopkins
Time just caught a jet plane.
Today this black woman turned 40.
There's no looking back at years lost;
and harboring hate from yesteryear
is a misuse of this black woman's fresh spirit,
fresh time and fresh vision.
And once I awakened from that
youthful and idiotic sleep,
I realized the beauty of the Fall
would not last forever
in a closed heart where no love lives
and it's best to let leaves fall
where they may because someday innocence
will awaken and rake up the dead leaves
that once floated gracefully like ballerinas
to the ground and their dance will end.
into the life of the living,
bringing death and ice,
for I must make my own warmth
within when Winter comes--it cares not
if I sleep blanketless against the cold
or warmly under handmade African quilts.
It will still come and claim its season
with forceful storms and snowy days
and time will take not take notice
of those who slept away the cold days of earth,
or those who soaked up Summer eves,
for time like death, will sneak up
to steal away this black woman's hours of life.
