winter in minnesota
i am not supposed to be outside
snow half my height and fresh on my
tongue my sled is red and waiting
don’t get too cold i am told
but it's winter
in minnesota
i half-heartedly answer back
i won't
i grew up without you but you were there
we met at the top
went down the hill together
lay on our backs opening our mouths to
each other’s biographies
how we pledged love long before mother’s voice
come in now
and waited for the next
snow storm
one of the fifty states
i've never been to minnesota
i hear it's cold there in the wintertime
they have lots of lovely trees
ponds to skate on
wooly hats atop sun-bleached heads
i may find a norwegian
under a snowbank
jeg elsker deg
it's too early to tell
but i think
miraculous is something
like snowfall on christmas
you and me
in the car
shivering
and kissing