I miss the winter.
Bronx, NY
2024, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Living in New York I would look at the sky,
Seeing nothing but clouds and a wind too bitter,
My fingers cold and red from the frost,
And I would think,
I hate the winter.
The world went dark so early,
No time to shine,
No time for a journey,
This is no season of mine,
And I would think,
I hate the winter.
The trees stand bare, their branches stark,
Against a sky that rarely smiles,
The wind, a ghostly, biting force,
That howls through empty miles,
The season stomped heavier than a horse,
And I would think,
I hate the winter.
The cheer of holidays soon wanes,
The novelty of snow does too,
And all that’s left is endless cold,
The world turned still, a sky turned blue,
I wanted a day that felt like summer gold,
And I would think,
I hate the winter.
The cold air blowing my curls in the air.
My face bundled in a coat so warm,
God forbid if my face was bare,
My boots as heavy as a blank and dark stare,
I could not forgive it,
And I would think,
I hate the winter
So, I endure the winter’s reign,
With dreams of springtime’s swift return,
Of blossoms bright and days of warmth,
When once again, the sun will burn,
I just never understood why the winter was so tart,
And I would think,
I hate the winter.
The cold started to fade and felt no longer,
The happiness I had been dying to feel,
Though it’s been years since that same cold and bitter frost,
The concern began to dwelt,
And I thought to myself,
Where is the winter?
As I sit here pondering where it could’ve gone,
Habitats, forests, tundras, savanna’s torn,
If only I knew what had just begun,
We all could do nothing but mourn,
The ice kept shrinking, the numb feeling of air hitting my face forgotten,
And I thought to myself,
I miss the winter.
Reflection
Reflection
My poem, “I miss the winter,” began as a reflection on my experience living in New York and my dislike for the harshness of winter. However, as I progressed in my creative process, it evolved into a narrative about the loss of winter due to climate change. As I crafted each stanza, I revisited my own memories of winter and gradually wove in the broader implications of climate change. This process stirred a mix of nostalgia, loss, and urgency within me. Through my research on climate change, I learned about the critical role winter plays in various ecosystems and how its absence affects habitats, biodiversity, and weather patterns globally. This deeper understanding has made me more appreciative of the natural world and more determined to contribute to its preservation. By raising awareness through my art and collaborating with others, I hope to foster a collective effort to mitigate climate change and protect our planet for future generations