Accustomed to the Warmth
Pacific waters glitter
with sparkling emeralds,
dazzling diamonds,
bronze feet amble
through bleached white sugar sands,
brown eyes watch palm trees sway
in a Tahitian dance.
I was accustomed to the warmth,
a stranger to the cold,
when Fate carried me on her wings
to a distant place
(could it have been Faith)
where winter has a stake
for an eternal tenure.
I brave the numbness
in the cold,
await the return
of lambent green hours,
the embrace
of pale, quivering shoulders
once again.
Through frost and wind
and lashing rain,
rebirths of grass,
while lost in palettes of sunsets
and variable
shades of dawn,
I have grown
accustomed to the warmth,
familiar with the cold,
as seasons weave the mottled
tapestries of life,
brown eyes watch pine trees stand:
stalwart guards of each passing
full-orbed year.
by D. G. Vachal © 2012-2013
...revised version of “Accustomed to the Warmth”, 2012
Photography: 1). Ka Olina Palm Trees by D. G. Vachal
2). Morning Picture with Harmonious Pines by Archimond @ Flickr Commons
lilies, sparrows and grass 
Reblogged this on Pen of the Prophet and commented:
This just transplants me to a beach… sigh
Thank you so much for reading and reblogging! I am thrilled that the words transplant you to a beach. All my warmest wishes! Dee
You’ve captured well the relocation of your life – it might be fate, but certainly faith that made you take the plunge, I reckon – that a better life beckons.
An easy-to-read poem, light and very visual for me.
Thank you, Dee, for sharing,
Eric
You have solved the Fate/Faith conundrum in this life-relocation narration, Eric. Thank you for sharing your perspective, and I am glad to know that this poem is “easy to read, light and very visual” — what I wanted to achieve in this piece.
Best wishes,
Dee
powerful imagery … both in words and photographs 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much, Heidi. Blessings, Dee
“I was accustomed to the warmth…” and then after fate, faith and bravery – you “have grown accustomed to warm, familiar with the cold.” Hmmmm. I think my dear poet is very familiar with the warmth in both places and the mental coldness of missing the place of your birth and the very real cold of where you call home now. The work, to me, is a sigh and a pacing. A see saw of no regrets and I wonder.
Your take on this piece is very intriguing to me, Sandy… “a sigh and a pacing” and “a see saw of no regrets and I wonder”… Perhaps you’ve plunged into the inner depths of this post, beyond the shallows of snorkeling… Thanks so much for your thoughts. Dee
Gorgeous words…i cannot say my familiarity with the cold has ever warmed over the years… =P
Witty and clever — I couldn’t have said it better myself! Thank you most kindly for stopping by, reading and commenting! I wish you lots of warmth as we brace for the arrival of winter, after this gorgeous autumn (here in the Northeast, at least)… Best wishes, Dee
Awesome change Friend ! A marvelous carpentry of words Dee! Enjoy & rejoice! Faithfully Debbie
Marvelous concept — this “carpentry of words”. I am humbled by your comment, Debbie. Yours truly, Dee
Reblogged this on HUMAN RIGHTS & THE SIEGE OF BRITAIN POLITICAL JOURNAL.
Thank you Rainbow Warrior Lizzie for reblogging! Blessings always, Dee
Beautiful in word and image!
Thank you, Ellen. It’s a pleasure to know you found this post so. Blessings, Dee