The White Blanket

by Edward J. Herdrich

The cold November rains, wet and heavy reminders of our pains

Signal a calling to a close, those struggles, long and short, with many foes

Some we barely recognize along the way, others, in the mirror, each day

Whether we set out on the path well known, or boldly go another way

Facing the fact, not easy for many, this journey is one we chose

December’s cold and first snow, some know, this white blanket brings gains.

This time – December, January, February – remember,

The ice and snow and quiet contemplation hold sway

A stillness of the heart, mind and soul each day,

Finding the time to bare the cold, without a heart, froze,

Moving through this time, strength through mercy shows

For all, in the time and the season, especially on the great plains

The spirit of tatanka does not waver by these strains

Beneath the white blanket, humanity’s next step, an undying ember.

Four directions, four winds, four seasons, each a sort of passion

This place we face, north – waziyata – brings closer to each clan member

Seeing beneath the spring and summer motions, the pride to surrender

To recognize when the accents and excess of others stripped away

Winter brings with it crystalline flakes blanketing all from the past day

From common ground, mistakes we share, understanding grows

With compassion born or remembered, the heart now knows

This cold, white blanket forgiveness, removes all the stains

It covers all, then as it thaws, leaves the necessary remains

For Spring to start again, growth anew, hope and warmth never out of fashion.

 Lakota translations:

Tatanka – bison; buffalo

Waziyata- the north