Wintered

By Serena Elsasser

Let me walk backwards

Let go of my hands

Yours are no longer familiar

You are a stranger

Let me ask for all my tears back

Return it to the earth

Maybe it’ll help the dead leaves grow

Let me walk through winter

I’ll turn my head towards the mountains

Calling still through pillowed snow

Reassuring that the stars still reflect me

So please, let go of my hands

You can let them slip slowly

I’ll grant you one last stare

So you’ll remember

My snow-filled eyes