Winter

In the winter we must clip our wings
we must allow the ice growing over our heads
and accept a nature inflicted hibernation

in the mornings I wake in the warm nest
of blankets and think,
"I could sleep forever,"

outside seems unbearable
but late at night kevin forces me into the fog
sitting along the river we realize
it isn't so cold - so unbearable

a coat, a hat, a pair of gloves

sitting beside the bank
we speak of gardens
vegetables and herbs in beds set on the south facing deck in the spring and summer
harvest enough to feed us and the neighbors
I stroke my fingers along frozen ground

but we must remain present
it is winter.

Juniper Fitness

Sometimes at the gym when there is line of people running of the treadmills I like to pretend I am in a Russian training camp like in the movie Rocky and everyone is being trained on machines.
"We're going to lose the fight," I think to myself.
Beyond the wall of glass seperating the runners from the outside I watch as a sweatshirt clad man runs by shadowboxing. From the corner of my eye I consider my silent and beefed up running partners.
"We've lost our heart."