outside air burning pepper cold
house though tumbled blanket warm
take off your hat, your gloves and shoes
be calm and sit and close your eyes
tomorrow is tomorrow and we will deal with that
for now feel safe and sleep
stranger
She watched the stranger
She watched the stranger approach. He strode across the beach, his shadow long in the evening sun. On the horizon, waves grew.
The sky holds ice
The sky holds ice. Baby blue slides to old-man silver grey. Air is edged and sharp. Skin is cold as burnt touching water; heart pain for those who have suffered. Close the door when the last stranger has entered; never, never, when one remains outside.
J looked at the book
J looked at the book, then at the woman sitting next to it. Strangers on a train. She smiled back up at him and put the book away.
