The Winter Ash and on Dancing

Out of the coldest part of the Montana year,

the dance of seasons finds me, 

surprises me,

even startles me a little.
Like some sneaky and inky-eyed weasel out of the thicket, maybe a martin....
Or maybe more than sneaky.

 Like every late-twenties birthday after 25.

I feel a little inky myself,

a bit like these ol' pupils couldn't soak in any more winter light if they tried.

What is it about this time of year
 that makes me so....

feisty.

The red-hot blood and pelt of my freckled and scarily-white skin
longs for warmer days, longer days.
My eyes crave the richness of the color green.

I am a slave to the scarce sun.

I care  less and less about how many white flakes fall

and more about what the ocean sounds like
 when waves crash against something solid.

Like a beach. Or a boat.

February is always the hardest.
It's the middle of this frozen bastard season. 
Not quite snowy, not totally committed to spring.
It's no-mans land for winter.

But the chickadees sing a little louder these mornings,

as if to solely gain my attention.

The air today is crisp and full of life,

A welcome break from the icy riff of weather we've been having.

The clouds zip by today as if they had somewhere east to be, and quick.

I feel a light hum of the day, a buzzing in my heart.

I hear chickens hollering in the distance,

wondering themselves when the white turns to green.

But rather than holler,

I've found a calmer sense of my mid-winter wanderlust.

I've found, today, a little winter dance rising in me.

A blue and beautiful sky to keep me,

for lack of a better word....

grounded.

......

Today,

Time to dance when you feel like hiding,
TIme to sing when you fear the air won't hold a tune.

February' is not going anywhere.

And sometimes, it is really quite......lovely.

....

The Winter Ash: 

A set of sterling silver fan-dangles,

 all drippy and hammered, 

 with intricately carved Cinnabar beads. 

For your winter dance....

And any other time you feel your season needs a little pick-up and pep.

In the shop.

......................................

and here too.....

Happy February.

To the dance.