Chris Bickel

Chris Bickel was born and raised in Ventnor, NJ and is a long-time educator having been a teacher, assistant principal and currently a supervisor of social studies. Chris is also an amateur photographer and enjoys pairing his writing with imagery and inspiration from nature. He resides in Essex County, NJ with his family. You can follow Chris’ work @oceanseer on Instagram.

Star Trails at Dusk

Winter waits patiently

for things to arrive.

Like the quiet of new snow

on a Ponderosa Pine, gently sprinkled

onto the forest floor by a wide yawn

of valley air. The mid-day thaw

of ice on the Birch tree branch extending

the icicle one drop at a time.

Winter waits

for invisible fires to form 

on the hearth of your soul

and warm the old and cold forgotten 

dreams of who you were here to be.

Winter waits

for the celestial tides of stars

to rise and paint the ancient stories

of the past on a dark canvas

during the darkest night.

Winter waits.

If you wait with it

silently, patiently,

and without thought,

then you will see

the star trails at dusk

make beautiful circles

that mark the passage

of time.

And if you see them,

you have waited long enough

for the stars

to be your guide.