the night was thick
with expectation: heavy lidded smiles
frosted chain link fence, creak

fingers found their way along
wedge foot in and pull up, lost
balance before

boots into snow, iced velvet
caught on every step
stole warmth from our toes

his nose was pink that night
and every word spoken
crystallized in the winter air

it made me wonder
if we were to return in spring
would the melting ice
spill our secrets into the earth

or evaporate, rise with warm air
and travel with the breeze