The snow falls in earnest

It dampens all noise around

As if earth itself respects the peace

And refuses to make a sound

What’s natural and simple

What’s plentiful to the prurient

Is only found here on the ground

For those who wish to find it

I lay myself below the trees

In an attempt to be a part

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Of the serenity so gentle

That I can’t even hear my heart

I think about her quite a lot

Under those still trees

And I wish she’d be as easy to read

As the patterns on their leaves

I think about her quite a lot

And whether she too

Is gathering snow under her collar

And freezing in her boots

What does my name mean to her?

I fool myself to think

That it’s become more than just syllables

Or hasty splatters of ink

I know that I can’t love her

And I do well to stay far

But on this night of waning light

It’s just me and the stars

I don’t expect her warmth

I merely wish she knew

The spiky gates around her face

Still hurt me all the way through

And oh god they hurt

They hurt and hurt

And the hurt never goes away

They hurt and tear

And squeeze and pull

And the hurt NEVER goes away

There is no warmth under these trees

But yet I feel so warm

Because to think of this as a snow globe

Makes everything feel small