Ianuarius

In winters tightening grip we face
these dull, grey days in lassitude and
lose ourselves in plans for summer sun.
Wishing time and life away
seems to be a speciality of man.
Why can we not see the beauty of what is?
The monochromatic calm after
garish onslaught from colours
nature never sought to birth.
The freezing blanket wrapped
tenderly over sleeping vegetation,
allowing rest before the exertions of another year.
Time to think,
to breathe the fresh clean air of new beginnings
as past reflections glimmer in the seasons pallid light.
Live here and now.
Embrace this first and most
exciting of the months to come.
Dance through the storms,
leave angels in the snow
and hear the silence of a foggy
morning gradually disperse
to give the world a voice once more.
In winter's tightening grip stand firm and tall,
accept the season's gifts, then hold them close
for who can tell if they will come again
to herald vanward life into the spring.

Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius after the latin word for door (ianua), since January is the door to the year.