Until Next Spring

Verse 1

Birds gone

Migrated south, left

No flutter, no chatter, their chorus has fallen

To Florida’s sun, they run

Ribbons of wings slip into hush

Stillness settles on cold street corners

One note—

Silence outside

Lake’s glass—nobody glides across except frozen hope

But that hush is broken

Children call out, bodies chase puck to puck

Shouts echo, skim of skates

Winter bursts open, fractures the quiet skin

Chorus

I can’t see them fly

Will not see feathers ‘til snow recedes

I am watching, and the ice reflects

People play, their speed amazes me

Today, today

Everybody plays, and I’m drawn in—

Today, today

Post-Chorus

Today, today

Echoes rise, stay, stay

Verse 2

Blue jerseys

Clash, rush, the slapshot ricochets

Ice splits under blades, frosty faces focused

Hometown faces, bundled breath

Laughter wanders through the brisk hush

I sit alone, cheeks cold, eyes wide

Three quick passes, the puck is sailing

Now, winter’s hymn, a harmony of skates

Alliteration, action, ambition on ice

We won’t wander—just wait now for flight

Both teams, giving all, shiver and shine

Chorus

I can’t see them fly

Will not see feathers ‘til snow recedes

I am watching, and the ice reflects

People play, their speed amazes me

Today, today

Everybody plays, and I’m drawn in—

Today, today

Post-Chorus

Today, today

Echoes rise, stay, stay

Bridge

Maybe the birds will return, maybe I’ll notice more

Maybe cold brings together, maybe I’ll step onto the ice

I’m watching hockey, not wings overhead

But something lifts, something drifts, something returns

Chorus

I can’t see them fly

Will not see feathers ‘til warmth returns

But I’m watching, sunlight on blade, laughter on wind

People play, their joy amazes me

Today, today

Everybody plays, I watch again—

Today, today

Outro

Quiet returns as the game ends

Still lake, scattered snow, winter’s hymn

Another day, until spring begins