Old spine cracks in winter air
Blue ink bleeds on brittle paper
Bare branches claw the worn leather
Frost etches where words begin
Leather bound and frozen deep
Pages keeping secrets sleep
Snow writes verses on the cover
Dusk becomes the final lover
Binding glue surrenders slow
Cover warps where ice takes hold
Pages fan like wings in snow
Stories freeze before they're told
Leather bound and frozen deep
Pages keeping secrets sleep
Snow writes verses on the cover
Dusk becomes the final lover
Altos hum from damaged spine
Breath clouds rise from frozen page
Half-remembered hymn lines twine
Night descends on final stage
Leather bound and frozen deep
Pages keeping secrets sleep
Snow writes verses on the cover
Dusk becomes the final lover
Silence breaks with turning page
Winter yields to coming age
Choir voices swell and rise
Redemption in the muted cries
Thaw arrives on quiet feet
Leather softens, yields the word
Ink revives in warming heat
Spring receives what winter blurred
Leather bound and frozen deep
Pages keeping secrets sleep
Snow writes verses on the cover
Dusk becomes the final lover
Leather breathes in morning light
Orchard wakes from frozen night