we had a six-month winter.

 

we had a six-month winter

and I could have sworn

we'd stepped inside the pages of

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

playful breezes nipped our noses

and whipped our hair back,

raw.

we were naked as soon 

as we stepped outside,

no matter how many sweaters we shrugged into.

skin and snowflakes;

that's what it felt like.

the wonder of

Christmas wore away

like the finish on an old table - 

February was dull

and gray.

we thought it would never end...

but,

one day we looked up 

and saw green. 

clotheslines flapped and the wind was warm

and gentle,

carrying neighbour's radio music

 across the street.

and with a shock we realized

that we'd left it all behind

our noses sunkissed

hair tangled

the breeze lifting our shirts

away from our sweaty backs

and we forgot the snow

and we were happy.