The windy-wail

On the bitter wind of the bleak north
Rides the windy-wail, the air's own skeleton
The ghosts of all the birds whose wings froze stiff
And fell to earth as hail-sparrows, storm-chickens.

In the bitter hours of winter it comes forth
Demon of the ice host, wicked weather's son
The daughter of the glacier, the coldest riff
The windy-wail, it sounds as the storm thickens.

Blow's death, chills life, the windy-wail is frost
Firethief, wings of crystal-air ringing,
Colourless ice rainbows, halo it,
It is wind thin, wind visible, it stings.

It freezes joy, into the bones it settles most,
Dulls love, throttles fervor, ends singing.
Under doors through sashes, swallow-fit
Bone-bird the windy-wails' mistings.