My poem: Apricity: Gen

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Title: Apricity
Poetic form: terza rima (a variation on)
Length: 256
No. of lines: 36
For: 2022 GYWO Yatzhee Roll #6
Prompt: apricity: the warmth of sun in winter

of soft touch of gold sun in wintertime
of heat and light which come when scarce come both
a contradiction brumal and sublime

a caress above subnivean growth
like gentle brush of hand about a crown
a pledge, a promise snug, a whispered oath

while slumbers on, the frozen underground,
an ardor presses on the surface still,
a layered incalescence eiderdown


in opposition to hiernal chill
combatting bleakest, blanketing hoarfrost
a brumal beam bestowing cozy twill

when every bit of tender green is lost
when all is white and shades of somber gray
with rare red fleck of cardinal embossed

the winter clouds will part to clear a way
for sun, for warmth, for blessing faint but sure
and a promise: this cold, it cannot stay

intwined in heat, too, journeys winter light
to break apart the gloom with hopeful glow
and coax a dawn from day’s evermore night

to shine, to halt the season’s shadow show
and with a bright line define sweet vernal
potentialities beneath the snow

a fine illumination hibernal
will draw lids down and tilt the visage up
a greeting, antiphon, true, eternal

the bather fills a supplicating cup
with radiating joy and guards it dear
a horded draught from which to sip and sup

a light in winter, casting wonder cheer
on the silver slivers it turns to gold
as the earth turns, as marches on the year

when light and warmth are cast upon the cold,
forgotten term of old, apricity
there blooms an awe at beauty words may hold