Snowflakes dance above my eyes
Shards of ice scream beneath my sled
Wind howls outside my ears
and thoughts swarm inside my head
I'm at the top
now looking down
from the hilltop
above a little town
I see children playing in the streets
and festive, glowing lights and lanterns set free
The snow is cold against my feet
Ripped boots and holes in my stockings , it's rather chilly
The trees are staring at me
Each snow-covered branch gives me an icy glare
Collectively they mock me
and almost seem to invite me- but I wouldn't dare
A year ago my best friend answered the calling of the woods
Carrying a lantern and a sled
He never came out
But the little town pronounced him dead
Now I'm thinking about how cold I am
at the top of the ridge
to drown my thoughts of how cold he must be
buried deep in the foliage
It happened a year ago today
Thinking stings like the snow on my nose
So I gather the straps of my toboggan-
Wait...
Second thoughts...
Stop...
Go back...
My hands drop the straps...
I walk away and relief fills my heart
And down the hill my lone toboggan goes.
