this winter comes early
body broken into the cold
and the as yet fighting
the distant fields are distant still
you can no longer see for the fog
but they have stayed
long enough
to be remembered
in the mornings
brace bare feet for cold floor
brace fingers for cold water
brace skin for cold air
but it does not come
this winter comes slow
everyday the fields grow closer
everyday they grow more distant
you can feel your body grow dry
but it is a corner-eye
dream-rememberer feeling
in the evenings
brace sleep for sharp chill
brace world for hard fog
brace for that which will not come
and now
you shiver.