Christmas Resilience

 

Christmas Resilience.

 

Tell me a winter-clad tale of ponds
icy coated and
Christmas held between tending  
farm animals,

of misty dawning's snow-blind glide
through goat-dotted hills
to cottage cowl,

of wind's sudden howling in rafters
                                                        when teeth rattle.                                                                 

Tell me of frosty-backed cattle tho' 
stalled lowing for cud,

of fields thigh-high in drifts, flakes
piled around hedgerows
shielding stiff sheep,

of frozen greenery,
of tough farming breeds labouring  
to dig out and save
lambing ewes,

of new-born bleating hunger,
of calves losing
others in mass stumble for cover,

of log-ovens kept hot to save late
festive dinners and puds
when jobs are done.  

 

Tell me the story of never say No
when going gets tough,

of folk whose hold on tomorrow
shines with hope,
when after bad weather losses
shrugs of wide shoulders 
fasten worn jackets and hatted, 
trust steps forward
raw fingered yet willingly ready
despite freeze and 
struggles to battle all conditions.

Clad in strongest resilience
such men and their women.