Snowglobes & Witchcraft

Childhood laughter flying free

open arms surfing on wind

tiny joy dancers

crowded in cul de sac backyards

blowing bubbles in snow day air

curious eyes excitedly watching

fragile orbs sinking

one

by

one

by

one

to the winter ground beneath them

transmutation

snowglobes snapshotting this moment

for all time until

too eager hands shattered them

memory lost because nothing lives forever

and sometimes good things die too soon

Joy is

such

a delicate thing

*

Neighborhood boy whose afro

snow coated like a halo

I never forgot the way our eyes met

or the way my hibernating hummingbird heart

grew full

like bubbles turning to snowglobes

melting in warm palms

witchcraft

Grey world blessed with Technicolor

every time you spoke with shy

smiling dimples just for me

nervous chatter

I felt something I never had before

*

Gloved hands seeking warmth

winter air freezing tears to cheeks

unsure puppy nipping too hard skin cherry

your mother made us hot chocolate

water and the powdered headliner

alchemy

her eyes were tired

money was hard because she lost her job, you told me

with sheepish downcast eyes

as if the lack of milk and marshmallows

made the drink any less sweet

Heart fireplace kindling

Knees bumping at the island

it was the best thing I had ever tasted

*

Snow days held school hostage

laughter reigning king until streetlights

called everyone home

with angler fish beckoning

But we stayed late at the park

hands tying us together as we swung,

you were quiet

dimples gone and eyes low

I wished I knew what you were thinking

divination

I wished

I had asked

*

Blue pickup truck treasure chesting

all of your precious things

you were gone the day the last

snow melted

revealing forgotten dandelions underneath

conjuration

snow day magic mourned your loss in my chest

and like shattered bubble-blown snowglobes

I never saw you again.