Lines For Winter by Mark Strand

Lines For Winter by Mark Strand

Tell yourself
as it gets cold and gray falls from the air
that you will go onwalking,
hearingthe same tune no matter whereyou find yourself
--inside the dome of darkor under the cracking white
of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.
Tonight as it gets cold
tell yourself
what you know which is nothing
but the tune your bones play
as you keep going.
And you will be able
for once to lie down under the small fire
of winter stars.
And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.