the sound of skate blades

ice finally thick enough

to welcome this prayer

even the crow

quiets down for a moment

surveying the frost

dusk before the moon —

the first day I’ve forgotten

to remember you

a friend reminds me

today was a minute longer —

I still need my lamp

her father’s longing

for the boy she never was —

origin story

(for a friend)

New Year’s Eve —

these opening chords we welcome

with claps and cheering

snow so light

we second-guess ourselves —

did we imagine it?

amazing how strong

the will to forget can be —

I erase a hole

snow in the forecast —

a chickadee sings close by

but I can’t spot it