Hibernal by Cristina DeSouza

Ice in my veins,

burnt blood.

Gentle gestures remove

snowflakes from my pale face

and placid eyes fixed on emptiness.

Red thick fluid frigidly flowing

under my olive skin.

Frozen fingers hardened by the wind

can’t grab anything, neither time,

nor my nonsensical dreams.

I quiet myself waiting for the unknown.

My visible breath cut by a sharp knife,

ice crystals float and my vessels freeze.

Nothing, not fresh blood,

neither thick lymph flow in me.

Killed slowly by the cold,

I glue myself to earth, like a rock,

immobile.

My thoughts are the only movement in me

and so I remain.

Till Spring comes and thawing begins.

Ice melting in streets and alleys,

in arteries and veins. Blood flowing free.

Nature sprouting seeds dormant up to then,

arousing life in the northern hemisphere.

And I, as water from wild creek,

now bathe sunflowers

that circle the yellow sun. 

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Cristina DeSouza is a poet and physician residing in Arizona. She has had several poems published by multiple literary magazines in the US and in Brazil. In the US: Passaic Voluspa, Sheila-Na-Gig, Raw The Journal of Arts, Poetry Pacific, The Healing Muse etc. In Brazil: Macondo Literary Magazine, Mallamargens Literary review, Revista Capitu, Um Conto, etc. She received an MFA in creative writing/ poetry from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2016 and had a book of poems published by Main Street Rag released in NOV 2019 and titled The Grammar of Senses. Her email address for contact is colo2309@gmail.com.