I sleep through the storms, the alarms, the sirens. I can’t seem to leave the night behind.
Mornings do not touch me. The grey dawn moves around my body, travels somewhere else, into other rooms, other lives.
I am not lost, but I have put myself on hold. For the time being I follow the thread that has entangled me, in parallel to where the rest of the world awaits.
Darkness knocks at every door. The wind shivers my bones. I am bombarded. Yet I stand resolute at the stilled center, suspended, withdrawn.
I sojourn. I am filled to overflowing with abiding.
When I return, winter will have receded into a different story, one already told. A new once upon a time will erase the cold, satisfy my hunger for warmth, birdsong, greenery, light.
Then I can open my eyes.
Then I can breathe.
Merril at dVerse has provided these words from Adrienne Rich for this week’s prosery: I am bombarded yet I stand.
K. 
What a great take on the prompt! I like that during this hibernation, the character “stands resolute at the stilled center, suspended, withdrawn.” I think that’s where I’m at too. Nice little cubby and reading some poetry! 😊
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Thanks Trucia. I think the past 18 months have acquainted us all with the feeling.
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True!
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A stunning piece!
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Thanks Reena.
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Nice one Kerfe. The suspension is not something to lament since the hope of bird song is in there abiding
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💛love
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Thanks Gillena. Yes, always waiting for us.
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Hibernation doesn’t sound like too bad of an idea, the way you describe it!
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heehe! That’s what I thought too, Ingrid!
🤍
David
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Thanks David. Help yourself.
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Perhaps that’s what the world is waiting for us to do so it has a chance to recover…
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“I am not lost, but I have put myself on hold.” You give good music while we wait. 🙂
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Thanks Manja. Sometimes it seems endless, but spring will come again.
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A powerful poem.
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Thanks Alethea.
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Dang. That’s so cool. Hibernation, or even one of those mornings when getting out of bed is not to be. I like how the hibernation is more than withdrawing, is an adventure; is still, yet active. “I sojourn. I am filled to overflowing with abiding.” Giving in but never giving up.
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Thanks D. I think this is necessary for all of us from time to time.
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Absolutely.
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I think we all need to withdrawal sometimes. Beautifully written, Kerfe.
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Thanks Merril. Yes we do.
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Love the way you incorporated Rich’s line ~~~ stellar write!
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Thanks Helen.
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Wonderful rhythm to this intricate piece.
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Thanks!
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Wow–power plus pathos, anger plus withdrawal, excellent word-smithing and clarion message. I liked “the gray dawn moves around my body, travels somewhere else, into other rooms, other lives”.
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Thanks Glenn. My mornings feel that way these days, even if I can’t give in to it.
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I love the marriage of art and word! Well done.
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Thanks Beverly.
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‘I am filled to overflowing with abiding’.
There’s so much peace in that phrase.
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Thanks Jane. We could all use more of it.
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That’s very true.
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Even your prose reads like poetry. This is just lovely, Kerfe. 💜
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masterful writing, time stand so still as times yet we know life proceeds …
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It’s true, with or without us.
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Nicely done.
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Sometimes we just have to hibernate and wait… spring will come.
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That’s true Bjorn. In the meantime…time for a nap.
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