Beyond the Blackened Pane

Beyond the blackened pane 
Winter’s grip is strengthened 
Through fingered stealth
An iron clad armour
Drawn across the land
I feel its cunning-
The fire burns more brightly
In the grate,
A deeper red 
To its core;
The heaviness of night
Is carried
Only the setting moon with painted halo 
Peeps between the fluted clouds
To break the steel;
And our star
From black to indigo 
Intensely builds the dawn.