when the end of the world
fails to arrive nothing
for it but to solstice
on December dropping
darkness shortened days short
focus sending weak rays
more readable sometimes
half-past apocalypse
quarter-to skating first
only snowfall fifteen
inch blizzard swallowed by
open lakes their wide mouths
speaking muted volumes
but we keep spinning half-
life of my attention

span shortening faster
than any twin-strung rope
of light the words we junked
just a mess of months we
don’t even know which end
to hold onto any
more what did we mean by
winter by frozen what
was linger I used to
love you but could sleepwalk
through this century like last
watching shapes melt faster
than faux snow can shop your
way certain stop sober
curtain sense if someone