Servant of Winter

By Lindsey Duncan

 

With the silver snow billowing until the world's end
I sought my way to distant Salina and the halls of the gods,
my heart locked in ice deeper than the winter round.

For thirteen days I struggled with only memory for companion.
Each breath a knife-turn as frost hills lay like dreamless giants,
with the silver snow billowing until the world's end.

Nothing behind me I did not want forgotten -
broken lives and a city shattered by fire –
my heart locked in ice deeper than the winter round.

But in Salina dwelt gods made of winter,
carved of glaciers with frost crystals to glove their hands,
with the silver snow billowing until the world's end.

I arrived, the heat of my last tears long frozen - wiped clean
of the woman I was. I gave myself to them,
my heart locked in ice deeper than the winter round.

Unknown years have passed in warmthless halls.
I found not peace, but numbness, not life – but never death,
with the silver snow billowing until the world's end,
my heart locked in ice deeper than the winter round.