Her Walk On St. Catherine’s Day

SoulMeetsBody

Her winter coat is zipped up tight

Dog’s lead, scarf - sorted

Her sister’s Christmas present - not yet

“There’s still a month.” she thinks to herself

As she steps out the door - wind abrasive; weather dull

 

The chill air provides fleeting thoughts like an avalanche

“Will it snow this year?” she thinks to herself

She is reminded of her youth once more

Longing for closure - school closure

“Don’t get your hopes up.” was her mother’s mantra

 

As she wanders she sees the usual November scenery

Leafless trees, towering streetlights, murky pavements

A strange charm to it saw by all who crossed its path

Even if overcast weather brought a depressing winter slump

The park’s stunning evergreens brightened the most bitter of moods

 

The rusty gate creaks open with a mournful brass accompaniment 

She sits on the bench opposite the fence railings and almost at once

Her cheek is blessed with a singular drop of snow, falling and landing like a tear

“Don’t get your hopes up.” she thinks with a wry smile

Whilst another floats gently from the heavens

 

An actual tear surfaces, welling softly

She reads the park bench inscription once more, as snow drifts quicker around her

“For Catherine, who loved this view”

An obscure saint or martyr, just another person whose name blesses a bench

A person who saw the view through all the year, in all four seasons

 

But to her, Catherine was her mother.

“Don’t get your hopes up.” was her mother’s mantra

When the snow was light on the ground, the rest of the time

She advocated to not lose hope, to not give up, to strive for greatness

Until St. Catherine’s Day five years ago.

 

She prays in the now squall:

“We have no more hope but in you

You are our protector, have pity on us”

 

Then, after a few moments, the snow stops

She gets up to buy her sister's Christmas present

To resume her walk on St. Catherine’s Day.

  • Author: SoulMeetsBody (Offline Offline)
  • Published: May 22nd, 2019 05:40
  • Comment from author about the poem: St. Catherine's Day is a secular holiday celebrated every year on 25th November and is celebrated in different ways for different reasons in many countries with a reoccurring theme of all celebrating women and the beginning of winter. As interesting as some of the traditions are, I wanted to write a poem that was more about a frame of mind in late November, than the actual holiday itself - though the prayer at the end is a translated quote from a French St. Catherine's Day prayer lifted and re-contextualised.
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 29
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Comments +

Comments1

  • Philip

    I like the way you have taken this day and woven it in with her mothers death. Great imagery with the snow drop.
    Phil



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