Today,
follow frost flowers into the woods.
Leave behind lists and plans
and reach out to the ephemeral,
each delicate winter wonder
only present in this moment,
on this day.
Break one gently from the stem
and taste it,
the flavors of dittany and pausing
resting lightly on your tongue.
Think about the grandmothers,
all they did to keep their worlds spinning,
all that is lost and forgotten.
Ask yourself questions about joy.
Do you know it?
Have you lost it?
Can you follow it?
Do you trust it?
Pause with your fingers reaching
towards these natural white ribbons
of icy beauty.
Think about how time in the sunlight
can illuminate the fragile and fleeting
and make it shine
for its sparkle of time.
Stand on a flat rock
and close your eyes.
Feel sunbeams and winter
mix across your skin.
Feel the winter woman’s wisdom fill you.
Open your eyes.
Gaze through the bare trees
to the gray horizon.
See the future.
Let frosted joy lead you,
grateful, open, and willing.
Sip your tea
and watch the sky,
letting flavors,
colors,
questions,
and sparkles
settle into your belly
to steep.
