Winter Solstice Compass

Bare skin, wrapped in Aspen fir,

A Barefoot trail leading the way through the star-glistened snow,

Creating a map and compass fronted by the North Star,

She heads into the darkest wooded path.

She comes upon a clearing around a corner,

in the thickest, darkest part of the forest

She travels far and her cold rigid body urges her to lean in further.

Relentless miles urge her on,

And finally, as she begins to drag her weary body to a crawl, she suddenly gasps.

For peeking through the darkness of the muddled bramble

is a little golden light, just bright enough to create a spark,

That suddenly lights aglow her surroundings,

sharpening her sight, thawing her hands, deepening her breath, warming her belly -

She is revealed in this familiar place;

her reflected image draping the forest floor,

evident in every crevice of the roots, flora, and fauna.

Tilting her head through the darkness, she looks up towards the star-studded sky and exhales warm light,

letting go of all she previously carried within…

A golden rabbit appears.