this winter feels colder than the last
i am sick
and weak
and tired
the cold is hurting my lungs
and no amount of smoke
or shared breath
will warm them
i am so cold at night
and there are no stars in the sky
to make me feel at peace

was last winter this cold?
i don't remember the last time i was
sick for weeks
inhaling steam from boiling showers and downing
whiskey and tea
by the mugful
and missing that passed rainy summer

I.
a body
embraced by stinging nettles

a mind
encased by bricks of ice

a tale
smothered by spiky wire

a voice
strangled by invisible rope


II.
hold your heart
in the flat of your hand

who’ll keep it beating
but you

or a stranger with wings
pretty

bubbles popping
from their mouth


III.
silence squashing
your rib cage

a train derailed
traffic jam

dreams don’t go
the way you dreamt them

there’s gold if you make it
over the hill


IV.
give me your life
by the mugful

aches and yawns
slide into Monday

Tuesday Anyday
minutes like piano keys

hours made of violin strings
burnt-throat laughter