jackets, scarves, mittens
until next time
in the storage bin

heavy sweaters
necks covered by scarves
Christkindlmarket

dripping coat
mittens hung
all around the fire

my first snow
red nose, flushed cheeks
crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch

cold fingers
windshield covered in ice
heater on high

iced over windshield
almost late for work
bent debit card

his red blanket
draped across
her bed

covered with a blanket
laying over the furnace
asleep

bitter cold
wind howling through old glass windows
grandma's quilt

maybe I’ll be alright . . .
I’m sleepy on this drive . . .
maybe not

an empty house
in the middle of farmland
fully packed moving truck

pile of firewood
wet
with melting snow

drip, drop . . .
she looks out the window
the world is still

thawing ice
another crack
in the foundation

chilled house
quiet as a mouse
the last ornament taken down

your cold cheek
against my warm one
ah, hugs

tennis courts
finally free from snow
we don’t have a ball

playgrounds begin to empty
it's quiet
the street lights turn on

first week back
dollar beers
Ah, i'm home

crystal clear, sunny sky
deception
through the window

making my way downtown
street lights peeking through
quickly falling snowflakes

tracks in the snow
lead to a
warm circle

fresh prints
in the snow
lead to the river

feet kiss the cold floor
time to put on
fuzzy socks

from the empty rooftop
bright city lights
we dance

angels
with no halos
in the snow

walking through the hallway
everyone so tall
I am lost

furry body
curled next to me
man’s best friend

winter storm
holding her tightly
mother love

Christmas eve
cuddling
first kiss

half-frozen stream
kills the dreams
of would-be skaters

fire crackling
kettle pot whistling
the widow returns

only a few more months
she thinks to herself
as she zips up her coat

bundled head to toe
layered
ready to go

lugging my sled up the hill
I finally made it
time for the thrill

blonde curls fall to the floor
freedom from the life lived
chop chop

all over again
in the same skin
I would for you

footsteps crunch
over the corpses
another fall

red lights everywhere
we stop
enjoy the moment

the phone rings
my heart hangs up
why

kettle on the stove
Fortnite on the tv
can't look away

lights dimmed
couple cooking dinner
wine in hand

no more pool
oh, so cruel
back to school

feet dangling
from the dentist’s chair
goosebumps

what goes good with a walk
walking shoes! but bad?
Jordans

barbecue meatballs
steam in the crockpot
Bears miss another tackle

horn blaring
puck drops
Chelsea Dagger

states apart
too young
we kiss goodbye

bronze crucifix
tight around her neck
goosebumps

the doorbell rings
my cousins are here
to play cards

summer ends
waiting on the corner I spy
the big yellow bus

the sting of old pictures
it’s not the same
maybe we can try again?

if i could love
stars wouldn’t be so
dim

new year
same me
different her