i’m living cold this winter i rattle and hold myself close piling on clothes like a phantom embrace

fingers sluggish to the point of gross sincerity emerging from under blankets an absurdity

remember this in august remember this in august

the house creaks oddly as ice crystals push their way outward into barriers between me and snow

no complaint from me hands to my mouth robed in blankets a monk in the order of six sided surrender

remember this in august remember this in august

epw 1.2.08 perrysburg, oh