it is not snowing

i know it is not snowing

for the snow covered trees above us are merely quivering in the fragile wind and shedding their weight

but i take a hesitant step forward, praying for traction on the packed snow slowly icing over; and i feel it stop

it is not snowing

i know it is not snowing

for i know what it is like when it is snowing

my feet buried in 6 inches that are rapidly growing 7, 8, 9; it is dark and i am covered and still

it is not cold

i know it is not cold

for the sun is shining down on me, reflecting off the pure mountains of snow

i feel it warming my dry skin as it reaches through my layers; i shed one after the other 1, 2, 3

it is not cold

i know it is not cold

for i know what it is like when it is cold

fragile hands turned white and shaking as the wind pushed against my frame and crushed my lungs; i can no longer breathe under its control

i am not in love

i know i am not in love

for my lungs heave with fear at the thought of her craving me

her existence is distant to me; the sound of her voice lost in passing from a brief minute when i heard her once

i am not in love

i know i am not in love

for i know what it is like to be in love

the sound of her name escaping any lips warming my core and letting butterflies loose; the touch of her lips on mine felt like home

it is not snowing

i know it is not snowing