Cold Sleet, Warm Raincoat

Standing at the edge of New York’s skyline,

its apartments alight with familial warmth.

Though he feels only cold sleet pelting against his

white collared shirt and the tie tightening

by the will of the wind.

He had gotten lost on the way up,

Finding certain peace when he found

the way down. A long way down.

As he fantasizes about dancing with gravity,

A woman of pale porcelain grasps his coattail.

Dressed in a bright yellow raincoat,

red umbrella in hand.

Her ruby lips part,

as she inches closer to him,

the red silk roof shelters the two

and provides a delicate

rhythm of pitter-patter for their ears.

Looking into her viridian eyes.

A memory of endless evergreen forests unfolds

before him. His knees buckle

and falling away, he feels

her embrace, and the fire-lit hearth within her heart.