A house on a hill
covered in snow
fire on the hearth
to keep out the cold.
In front of the fire
in blankets wrapped tight
a man has been sitting
all day and all night.
All is quiet, all is good.
Nothing has happened
perhaps nothing should.
But ice covers all
neath his blanketed skin.
His mind cannot thaw
the blood that’s gone thin
from years before the fire
eons of stillness
warmth without trial
has frozen his chest.
What is heat without cold
sleep without waking?
A man that’s grown old
his first step never taking.
Wake, old man,
step into the night
let frost take your hands
so your heart can ignite.
Step out and feel winter
nip at your nose!
Step out and enter
a world you don’t know.
Adventure awaits
the one who is bold.
Go now with haste
so you do not die cold.
“All is quiet, all is good.
Nothing has happened
perhaps nothing should.”
I know it's not Winter yet (although it's not far off) but this is the poem that came to my mind this week, so, snow or not, it's what I'm going to publish. Besides, I think it's applicable no matter the season.
The poem circles around a man wrapped in blankets, who's been sitting in front of a fire all day and night. That's not so bad, right? I mean, it's cold out. I can't say I blame him. But the problem comes in the fourth stanza, where it's revealed that his isolation is hurting him. In fear of the cold, he's blocking off everything except for warmth. This is something that is so incredibly easy for me to do. If I know something is going to be difficult, I usually do my best to avoid it, even if a part of me knows that it's something that is good for me or holds genuine personal reward. A good example is hot chocolate after playing in the snow. While you're outside, even if you're having fun, you're slowly getting colder. By the time you decide to go inside, your socks and hands may be soaked, your nose red, and your teeth chattering. But, once inside, you appreciate the warmth of the hot chocolate so much more, and you remember the experience pleasantly. I think it's similar with life: we need to continue doing new things, things that are difficult for us. There's both difficulty and reward in the cold moments as well as afterward when we sit back down in front of the fire.
If there's something you've wanted to try but have been nervous about, I encourage you to do it. I can guarantee you'll regret it later if you don't. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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