by Elisabeth Rees

Warm radiance of mutual brilliance,
My woollen jumper speaks no tales of fancy.
Cup of tea, your eyes on me are chancy.
Is the code of Winter youth dalliance?
Snow of the earth, limitless before me,
Laughing, surfeited on wine drunk spicy,
As we, winded, kneel on a shrine icy,
And I ask only that you adore me.

Glacial oppress of the forest air:
Under eyes above, passion is mid-red
And in my hair you lovely muttered truth.
We sway back to the house, hand in hand fair,
Excited grin, father yells, ‘You will be wed!’
And it was there bright love’s trust lived with youth.

Photo by Sophia Valmalette-Wright