I put on my overcoat and walked into winter - my teeth chattered rhythms
and they were grouped in twos or threes, like a morse code message was sent
from me to me. cars on slippery slopes, they're stuck: people pushing through
their mittens as i was beginning to feel it soaking through my shoes, getting
colder with every step i took to your apartment, dear.

and i was a kaleidoscope: the snow on my lenses distorting the image of what
was only one of you and i didn't know which one to address as all your lips
moved.
This is when i forget breathe all the things i scripted, they sound unfounded.
and the look that you're giving me, it tells me exactly what you are thinking:
"this ain't working anymore."

they got their mothers worked into a panic
sledding down hills into oncoming traffic
the parents layered clothes until the children couldn't move then kept them
outside til their noises were blue and i got left there, too.

i put on my overcoat and walked into winter, my teeth chattered rhythms. and
they were grouped in twos or threes like a morse code message was sent from me
to me.