why look back
when every fire that burned me
is extinguished
pissed on in the proper way
of dousing
that no ember may climb
dumb to the wind
that may wrest it free
that sweet baleful memory
cad with roses and charcuterie
i will not be enticed
better the naked hills
and their spruce
urgent in winter
better the ice
and the chaos of snow
cruel in its rebuke
better the spruce
and how it takes winter
as mantle as the ermine
robe of such resistance

Image: Fabian Betto on Unsplash