by Delaney L. Mathew

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I’ll write to you when winter fades,
and again at summer’s lament.
I’ll tell you tales of thawing sidewalks
and of dying leaves that kiss the ground’s cement.

I’ll write to you mid-June
And again in mid-November
From the waning whisper of a fire’s last ember.

I’ll tell you tales of sunshine
and of sleeping flower blooms.
I’ll reach for you in the night, alone,
when only fireflies feast on the darkness that looms.

I’ll write to you even when I feel hollow,
and maybe a little sad.
I’ll use all of the words in the dictionary
to remind you of what we once had.

I’ll write to you on pen and paper,
or on soggy paper dolls,
lying underneath a slim birch tree,
surrounded by drones of ravens caws.

I’ll keep writing,
even when I am old and gray.
For you, my dear, promised, that you would always stay.

The winter has now faded,
And the summer’s melody came and went,
the leaves below my feet are melting,
and the fire has come to repent.

So I’ll keep my promise,
on this mantle I will stand,
until a granite stone is placed above my head
on this harrowed piece of land.

I’ll hold my letters to you,
I will take them to the grave,
for once we may meet again
all our sadness can simply be staved.

I’ll sit beside you,
as you read the words that I wrote,
inspired by your smile,
and all of the things that I cared to note.

For winter has now faded,
a fact no one can deny,
and now for once it is simply again,
just you, and simply just I

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Delaney L. Mathew (she/her) is a writer from the Youngstown, Ohio area who focuses mainly on supernatural and horror literature. She’s a graduate of Youngstown State University and works full-time as a retail manager. When not working, Delaney can be found at literary events hosted by Lit Youngstown or writing her first novel which has a supernatural take on the stages and effects of grief. Her short stories are featured in publications by Jenny Magazine, Minds Eyes Publications, and Wicked Shadow Press. Check out dlmathew.com for more info!