Walking down the avenue,
admiring how my cigarette smoke
mingles with the snow.
Gentle wisps rising,
quiet kisses falling,
but they meet midair
to dance.
I could watch this silent beauty
for days, until

a wrinkled old man closing up shop
scowls at me.
"Those things will **** you, lady."

I pause.
Shocked at the sound.

"That's the plan," I mumble,
and clumsily stride away.

The snow keeps falling
but nothing sticks.

I want to ruffle my hands through your hair.

I want to feel your chest warm against mine.

and close
my eyes

And forget the earth beneath my feet
and just for a moment

believe

that all I'm really connected to is you.

When you face eternal Nothingness
There is nothing left to say

Once I walked the Dawn
But dawn goes down to day

Like the Buddhists and the Daoists
Solitude is my Way

Keep on trying, Ponyboy!
Though nothing gold can stay.