It
.
w
a
s
.
wintertime,
–
–
when
.
t
h
e
.
barren
echoes
.
o
f
.
loneliness
cried,
–
–
beneath
.
t
h
e
.
ruthless,
.
unforgiving
.
skies
.
o
f
.
bitter,
.
chastising
winds
.
a
n
d
.
cold-hearted
ice . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
shivered . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ I
shivered
.
w
i
t
h
.
the
lie . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
h
a
t
–
–
–
it
.
w
a
s
.
for
me
.
t
o
.
decide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ that
.
i
t
.
was
.
f
o
r
.
me
.
t
o
.
decide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
o
–
–
–
hide
.
a
.
life
.
using
.
words
.
t
h
a
t
.
were
.
n
o
t
.
mine . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ to
hide
.
a
.
life,
–
–
without
considering
.
t
h
e
.
reasons
why . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
created
.
a
.
n
e
w
.
design,
.
.
w
h
i
c
h
.
.
mimicked
.
a
n
d
.
rhymed . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
created
.
a
.
n
e
w
.
design,
.
.
w
h
i
c
h
.
.
fit
.
s
o
.
well,
–
–
within
.
t
h
e
.
coloring
.
book
.
lines . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
shivered . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ I
shivered
.
w
i
t
h
.
the
lie . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
h
a
t
–
–
–
it
.
w
a
s
.
for
me
.
t
o
.
decide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
.
time,
.
.
w
h
e
n
.
.
carefree
.
fun,
–
–
play,
.
a
n
d
.
laughter,
–
–
would
.
fly
.
s
o
.
free
.
a
n
d
.
carelessly . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ so
free
.
a
n
d
.
carelessly
.
into
.
t
h
e
.
exhilarating
highs,
–
–
beneath
.
t
h
e
.
promise
.
o
f
.
sunshine . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ a
sunshine
.
w
h
i
c
h
.
would
.
smile,
.
.
w
i
t
h
.
.
a
.
warmth
.
s
o
.
wide,
.
t
h
a
t
.
free
.
spirits
.
danced
.
w
i
t
h
.
joy,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
cartwheeled
.
a
l
l
.
across
.
t
h
e
.
summer
skies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ they
danced
.
w
i
t
h
.
joy,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
cartwheeled
.
a
l
l
.
across
.
t
h
e
.
summer
skies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
.
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
.
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
.
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
b
u
t
–
–
–
now
.
i
t
.
was
wintertime.
Reflection: This was a melancholy-themed poem that I wrote back in October of 2014 where the contemplator looks back with regret on living a life within the tight confines of societal norms just to fit in. We get the feeling he or she will never be happy living in that fashion – because living an authentic, “true to yourself,” kind of life – independent of what others think, believe, or try to convince otherwise – is the only way to truly be happy.