A Kiss of Winter (Winter season Contest)

As the first snowflake fell upon the land,
it brings about both joy and sadness.

The families huddling together in warm houses,
sheltered from the dreaded cold and loneliness,
will be placing parcels of gifts around their christmas trees
or sharing wonderful stories of delights in company.

To them it is the season to be celebrated together
as they sing the carols and play games with each other.
A chance to display their love to the young and old
and to remember the treasure that is greater than gold.

Alas, there are still the homeless, chilled to the bones,
faces empty of joy, shackled by past memories
of beautiful moments in life that have come and gone.
They gather in crowded shelters, fleeing from winter's kiss.

In homes for the aged, the forgotten elders
waiting for their loved ones to visit their abode
or lost in grief, their families all departed
as they long for the end of their lives' road.

Such is the truth of the season
when winter embraces the land.
Joy and sadness of the humans,
entwined as one, defining them