Impressions of Finland

Pine branches bow with snow’s deep hush Lakes gather starlight’s gentle crush I tread on frost, a crystal shell, through the woods Where past and present softly stood Café steam climbs the window glass Melting the frost from smiles that pass Wooden chairs hold tales that slowly unfold Like northern lights through fir trees rolled When we escape the crowded miles And let the snow bury all the noise Between the endless dark and light We learn to breathe like spruce trees in the night When fairytales are not just pages wide But doorways into colors deep inside I finally see the shape of light — It’s the unspoken distance in your eyes They plant their lives like berries grown Brew poetry from summer’s short sweet tone And winter, with its silent, long embrace Teaches my shadow how to find its place When reindeer break the icy dawn’s blue hue I forget how to chase the light I knew (Before the snow melts away, we stay true) ---