And Winter Came

I remember the first time my lips had spoken your name.
The taste of the air was sickly sweet,
And the sound of my voice startled me.
If you could walk with me, would you?
Could you?

Your feet are frozen in place
And mine are running fast through footprints left behind by others
With a more erratic gait than mine
Through the trees,
Towards the sea.

I can’t go on further…
My lungs are burning
And I can no longer see
What waits beyond the trees for me,
For us.

I see you watching there
-I see you!-
Silently, like a specter.
And the sea, once glorious
And sparkling
Now sits still and gray,
Too cold to dip toes.
Too cold.