how might the night
be slept away
and yearned but for another
heaven here on earth
as whiter
snowflakes swirled

from somewhere else
much colder now
than ash by fate decided
were stones beneath the rapids
polished cedar bark

where all was still
but for the bears
without the words to warn us
spoke only to each other
of spring
their next goodbye

lanterns lit
and lightning bugs
were settled down in secret
brushed into illusion
as skies of indigo

so slow the dawn
returning
to breathless apprehension
six months denied
the glow of sacred sun

whispers I remember
as planets moved together
bears to talk with bears
the night shall talk
to none