Winter In America
January runs on its one good leg
Ready to relay February into existence
Who could risk love, though, at a time
Like this?
Snow is determined to put the city on pause
And I welcome it
Let me wait under the earth-ruined white
Not for what will come
For what’s already alive there
We won’t eat our way out of this
Ice threatens and splinters the boughs
But from under I see how far the roots go
They can’t take from us the things that
Keep us bodied
Let them try
In my ear, the quiver of life waking up
Forming words in my mouth
The beating song we all know
What has to be said of love
I have the heart for this
I’m not too much of what I am
Zoë Etkin is a Memphis based poet and somatic practitioner. She also runs Memphis Poetry Clique, which offers monthly readings, peer groups, and classes. Learn more about her at www.memphissomatichealing.com.
