Stabbing cold

Alpine whiteout

Hopelessly lost

Back to wind

Only way to breathe

Eyes frosted shut

Limbs, extremities numb

Exhaustion 

Courage awakens

With a glimpse

Perhaps a mirage

A cabin

Wooden empty

Snowbound roof

Just enough space 

To squeeze through

A paneless window 

Onto a hard wood floor

Still cold

Still freezing

Hypothermia

Creeping

At least out of

The wind with

Its killing knife

A fireplace

Wood and Yule

Tiny smoldering wick

No flame until

Unseen hands

Cup round,

Unseen breath

Breathes a

Flicker, now a

Spark, now a

Flame to light

Kindling, log, and 

Yule into

Life-giving

Life-restoring

Life-saving

Warmth of

Love that

Refuses to 

Quench a

Smoking flax