"Thermostat on 68 Degrees Farenheit"

I greatly dislike the cold
smooth skin morphing into goose flesh
soft breath hitching,
                             hitchinghitching,
trying to start a fire in half-thaw lungs

The jacket is never thick enough
My scarf is always too thin
Sun, where have you gone?
        Come back and heat the earth!
        Come back and thaw my marrow!
        Come back and boil my blood!

I long to feel the ice melt from my scalp
and trickle, slow as molasses down my temples.
And I long to burn under Summer's passion
And I want to be cooled by the kiss of the wind
          (Cooled, not deep-frozen under bone-crushing embraces such as yours, Winter!)


9/3/11