In December's Wood

In December's Wood

by Jeff Bidiman

In the seclusion of December's wood,
The whispering moments of Winter-hood
Find me in great need of serenity,
That imponderable amenity,
And walking within the evergreen frost,
Feeling completely so lonely and lost,
Failures, misfortunes, are all that I see.
Relentless pursuers I cannot flee.
So I shall rest below snow plated trees;
Maybe, just maybe, my feet I can please.

Meanwhile, unfolding before my sad eyes,
A portrait of peace appears in the skies.
A brilliant beam shines above a crisp lake,
While my tormenting thoughts tremble and quake.
See the snow sparkle in the blue moonlight.
See how it twinkles in the soft midnight,
And here, all around this frozen shore,
Those devilish thoughts torment me no more.

Then one tiny star descends from its home.
One tiny star has started to roam.
Down it drifts toward the frozen lake.
Down it drifts; one single, little snowflake.

Faintly a sound floats in the frigid air.
A gentle tune emerging from somewhere.
I can hear a flute lightly drawing near.
Violins and horns perform in my ear.

Who plays such music so near the lakeshore?
I wonder if maybe I should explore,
But I am transfixed by this glint of ice.
Enthralled by this small piece of paradise.
Slowly descending, shining so bright,
I marvel at how it reflects the light.
The music grows louder, pleasing my ears.
The melody sooths and calms all my fears.
The flake is expanding; lowering near.
Changing in shape; its image quite clear.

If I am dreaming, I hope not to wake,
I see a woman alight on the lake!
Her hair is long; downy white as the snow.
Her skin; the color of the moon's full glow.
Her dress aglitter with heavenly star shine.
Her two silver skates; I cannot define.
Angelic wings, with a celestial sheen,
Drape from her back, transparently pristine.
Gracefully gliding, spinning, and turning
To the music that fills me with yearning.
Her skates cut swift patterns into the lake.
A vision thats more than my heart can take.

The invisible flute cries so sincere,
And softly, I release an icy tear.
Down it rolls, slowly transforming to sleet.
Down it rolls toward the snow at my feet.
Then that dread tear splashes onto the ground.
Betraying me with a deafening sound!
Oh misfortune, why must you plague me so?
Revealing me, shivering in the snow.

Silence reverberates throughout the night,
And I am filled with an uneasy fright.
Slowly turning to rest her eyes on me,
I see her stare of heartbreak and pity.
Flapping her wings without stirring the air,
Floating toward me, (I mumble a prayer),
Without a word, or sound, she flies so near,
And scoops up the snow that caught my cold tear.
What should I do, when dreamily she stands,
But stare in wonder at her outstretched hands;
And what do I see where my tear had froze?
Amazingly, a bright red rose!

I cradle it closely in the coming dawn,
And look for the angel, but she is gone.
Instead I see glittering in the ice,
These three little words of sound advice:
"Trust in God" lay etched in the lake.
Suddenly, my thoughts begin to awake.

Today as the sun lifts over the trees,
I find that my mind can now be at ease.
The Loving Lord is looking over me.
Encompassing me with His majesty,
And as I stare at this rose in my hands;
I promise to do what He commands.

While I step from within December's wood,
In the whispering moments of Winter-hood,
I return with those I cherish the most;
The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost.

Author: Jeff Bidiman