My friend was feeling depressed and mentioned that there were flowers in spring, summer and fall, but none in winter; that she wished there were flowers in winter. So I wrote this for her:

Flowers in Winter

The flocks are safe inside the barn.
There is no frost on the goat’s beard or the lambs’ ears
And the hens and chicks are gathered deep in the hay.
Snow clings to the weeks-old wreaths and holly;
Hawks and sparrows and chickadees
Forage in the barren cold;
But on those days He sends the sun!
We remember and rejoice
That He came to be balm to the weary,
And healing warmth to the shivering soul.
That on the third day He rose
And lives again!
Just in time He speaks,
And gently reminds us,
"Forget me not..."
Remember that snow lay on the ground
And the people walked in darkness,
But the Light came into the world!
It’s winter now,
But He is the Lily of the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star,
The Precious Pearl;
He, everlasting,
The Flower of Winter!


(for extra credit: can you find the eleven flowers mentioned in the poem? )

**Oops, there are actually 13!