around me, I hear them whisper
words like fingers that choke
lost in a daydream I wander
barefoot, my feet melt frost
I feel no cold, world swirling
I long for something to punch

their words come back to punch
don't want to go home, hear them whisper
I need to sit down, my head swirling
thoughts strangle me, I choke
he's gone, body covered in frost
soul forever on earth to wander

I never intended to wander
this far from home, but the punch
of the loss is a bitter frost
I listen to the trees, their whisper
a prayer for me, on my tears I choke
the last leaves fall around me swirling

I feel the wind swirling
and I no longer wish to wander
nor do I want to choke
on my thoughts, or feel this punch
of death, I want the trees soft whisper
I can feel the cold of the frost

I wince at each step on the frost
dizzy, it feels as if the world is swirling
the trees soothing whisper
stays with me as I wander
back home, my thoughts no longer punch
there is nothing left to choke

In the house the others choke
on cries, tears freeze into frost
the loss hits them like a punch
their sobs form a swirling
confusion of sound, they wander
room to room, avoiding each other's whisper

I wipe the window's frost reminded of the whisper
of the trees, their voices choke my cold wander
outside, the winds punch branches, leaves swirling.

03/12/1997

Author's Note: ok I lied. THIS was my first ever attempt at a sestina, assigned to me in my very first creative writing workshop in college when I was 18. lol. pretty bad isn't it?

Posted on 05/10/2003
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