A blush of scarlet red
Cascaded down her pale blue face,
Wrapped in resilient hues
Of wild indigo and gentle periwinkle,
Inhaling and exhaling
The breath of earth and air,
Finally freed from chest tubes,
IV drips and oxygen tanks;
Ribbons of sunlight and snow
Fall softer than gauze kisses,
Soaking in the gentle chatter
Of whistling timeless trees,
Finally feeling fingers
Numbed by morphine for too long
And finally numbing sorrowful
Feelings felt for too long;
Past beyond frost-laced raspberry canes
And blankets of endless earthy white
And icicles that left crystalline scars
On our old hospital window;
Two steady lines of courage and hope
Her wheelchair paved;
My snow footprints guiding closely,
Two feet right behind
With wispy mists frosty at our breaths
Our souls huddled together,
Shivering yet serene under saccharine stars —
Do you want to go back inside?
A gentle lopsided, toothy grin,
Just a few more minutes please.
And so we stayed,
Feeling more alive than
When we were in her room;
Finally, time stood still,
Rapt in blissful and wintry internal peace.
