Tell yourself
as it gets cold and gray falls from the air
that you will go on
walking, hearing
the same tune no matter where
you find yourself --
inside the dome of dark
or under the cracking white
of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.
Tonight as it gets cold
tell yourself
what you know which is nothing
but the tune your bones play
as you keep going.  And you will be able
for once to lie down under the small fire
of winter stars.
And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.

Added: on January 6th, 2005 at 4:08 AM | Viewed: 5175 times | Comments (8)

Poet: Mark Strand
Poem: Lines For Winter

Poem of the Day on:
Jun 16 2004

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Lines For Winter, has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Mark Strand with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!