the drafts blew
harder at some points than others
i would shiver and then look over at you
as you shivered as well, my twin, my mother

as the coldness gained strength
over our bodies and took over our lives
i pondered at length
until at last , an answer arrived

i thought about my body and how it felt
as the cold air first tapped me on the shoulder
combined it with the strawberry sherbet that made my heart melt
then came the cold's boldness

as if my bones were made out of fluid
easily chilled
high hopes for possible soup, ruined
as i got my ice cream fill

i then finally came to wonder
that if i could feel the cold so much
like spiked chains wrapped around my legs to pull me under
then certainly, you would have felt more than such?

as my body ached
and stiffened and began to warn me
i put my hands under me for circulation's sake
waiting for that hot cup of tea

but you must have been worse off
in your older being
i could tell by your cough
and by what i was seeing

i wished right then and there
that i could save you
but would i dare
as you proudly denied it all--so what could i do?

i watched and waited
for the time to leap and us to follow
for you to make it
and hopefully, a better tomorrow...

s.m.