Well the fat lady has not sung yet for the end of winter, but I decided to include this poem to bring back some very special memories.

*
Hello: Snow Emergency Remains In Effect
* For Jackie Rossetti

Like an anxious lover
I wait for her call
her passionless voice
at the break of dawn:

“This is

Well…
Until Feb. 2
at the very least,
as the snow outside
my window
shows no intent
to cease.

In the winter of my discontent,
I want to see her–
my raging heart
into the raging storm
but she is a rebel
she is on the
other side of the tracks
on the odd-side of the street…
How I wish
we can meet.

I will try to save her
a seat
perhaps a lawn chair
on that
freshly minted white carpet
but she’ll treat
me like trash
and throw it all way
after all…
it’s a snow day.

I will pine for her
I will salt
I will sand
I won’t
let what we have
slip from my frostbitten hand.

I would never dare
to shovel
what we share–
our pristine New England snow–
our frigid love,
the cold storage secrets we keep
onto the unforgiving
mean streets.

But in the end
I will break
a city ordinance
our ticket
to meet.

She will be unforgiving
subject me to fines
but Jackie Rossetti
I can read
between the lines.

– Doug Holder

*

_______________________________________________
To have your work considered for the Lyrical send it to:
Doug Holder, 25 School St.; Somerville, MA 02143.
dougholder@post.harvard.edu