The reason

A frown appears on her serene face and her green eyes darken

as the faint cool breeze touches the back of her neck

and picks up tendrils of her hair to paint streaks of worry

on her smooth complexion.

Foreboding stiffens her posture,

becomes rigid and erect,

as the blue skies turn grey, then black,

washing away every smile and all color,

and the wind starts to howl around the cobblestone streets,

lifting dust and leaves and skirts in the air,

creating hunched down figures, rushing

to escape the cold, to escape the north wind,

to escape from the winds of change.

And this winter raged long, blasting through roaring fires,

stealing the steam off mugs of hot chocolate,

as she watched the once lively streets become empty deserted alleys

where windows mirrored the long leaden faces of house-bound children,

exhausted by games of scrabble and scolds to cease the running in the hallways,

their eyes reflecting the cold silver grey of the trees,

willing them to change, to change back to green,

to come back to life and emerge from this everlasting winter.

Despair sunk through her soul, driving away her peaceful smile,

banishing the spark of hope that once danced in her eyes,

and with leaden feet she climbed the stairs

to her room, to the cupboard, to her richly embroidered valise

and resigned, she starts to fill it,

with her colorful scarves, peasant skirts and broken dreams,

before settling in her chair to wait for the dawn

which will lead her through the winding road

to another place, another time, and another dream...

Yet the daybreak brought her footsteps, brought a knock to her front door,

which when opened brought a fragrant touch of the warm south wind

that melted away the darkness, the despair, the hopeless grim surrender,

and a rush of heat flooded through her, bringing back her cheery grin

and dancing eyes, reigniting the flame of passion and desire,

which she embraced with abandon, accepted without question,

for before her was the reason, was the answer to her prayers...

picture credit: http://www.filemagazine.com/thecollection/archives/2007/05/empty_chair_ope.html