trying for two

Let’s say bright.

Moon over mountains

And snow-covered slopes

Below-freezing beauty

And finger-crossed hope

This food for the soul, poisoned long ago

The same long ago that reminds me of you.

Let’s say frozen.

You gave snow a reason to stay

Fields of lashes to catch,

shoulder tassel to brush,

cloudy curl to comfort.

You gave me reason to freeze

Pushing patience to wait,

Sipping silent buzz,
Buzzing bottles emptied.

You gave words a reason to write

5 winters

I liked the distance
I liked the sin
It covered our mouths
and clutched at our kiss

I needed the miles
I needed the lines
To dilute my memories
and sift through my mind

I turned ruin to road
and straight rain to snow
Sea-blowing salt
to high valley hope

I thinned out the air
and drilled canyons to stare
at impossible slopes
to forget what was most
of a life just spent trying to finish.

I needed the distance
I needed the miles
I needed to freeze out the cold.