After School Youth

A nuisance I stayed on the bus soaked

to greet others, sheltered from the breaking down of the clouds.

She stayed alongside

and kept a body warm.

A body moving as we found the stone house we’d move into.

In the talks of our outside voices, or in the coating

of the trees she would compare our eyesight on in the spring,

now in the shimmering white.

It was in the self correction

before she claimed her insanity.

The snow hadn’t welcomed me yet.

I wish a crunch wasn’t deafening

as the compressed flakes raised their hands

to engulf the faux leather on my feet once again.

Now that she’s not beside me.