They say I am lying

But I only see trees of brown, roses of black

I look at you              

Dirt devours you

Your face the heartless breeze cuts

The encroaching ice

Groping your arms and legs

Restraining you

Taking you away

Brain crystallizing, eyes becoming marbles

I shift my eyes

And stop

To witness

A frail sliver of green defying the impregnable, cruel breeze

Resisting the clutches of ice and the hunger of dirt

The sight calms a storm of despair that has ravaged my heart

I remember

 

I see my house: it wears a mask

Delicate feathers and sparkling glitter ordain the front

Inside anger and hate fester like a blister

I see the remnants of my window resting peacefully on the floor

My tables and chairs roll over and sleep on their sides

Behind the locked door, screams

The knob dances with an unknown, fiery fever

I look through my was window

The rain beats the ground

The ground pleads, “Make it stop!”

I want it to stop too

I look out again

Rain kissing the ground

Soft pecks on the cheeks

Sun penetrates my house through the little cracks in the wall

Penetrates the clouds that stare down with venomous eyes

Strokes my face with its soft flares

I remember

“One sparrow makes not a spring”

Winter stopped visiting, clouds stopped coming

My other sparrow has returned

And with him

An eternal spring

 

Floors of green wrap around my shoes

Red, yellow, purple leaning on slabs of grey

Do you see the beautiful irony? 

I step over you

You’re not here

My heart should feel lead

But it feels cotton

I no longer see you

Only in my mind do I possess you

Yet, I still sense the warmth

I carry it with me through the endless streets

The ice can’t touch me, the clouds won’t stare

Knowing there was was

I am glad I can remember

 

My dearest, I know you had to leave

And all that’s left on your spot is a small green

A frail sliver

Defying