it came alive only at her lantern's soft light;

that icy crystal brook, flowing through the woods

was merely another cadence to the stillness...

neither goddess nor kingdom could cast the spell.

lifeless in itself, it gave profuse life:

from the rose petals clambering up willow trees

to the lonely deer who seeks hope for its little ones...

yes, abounding life to all, yet lifeless in itself!

it needed her steady breath to come alive;

that wind from the horizon, rippling the brook

as a fan ripples a silvery silk robe of royalty...

now a cadence to dawning spring anthems.

• • • • •

• Date written: August 2, 2017 • Word Count: 100 • Line Count: 12 • Stanza Count: 3 •