Today I saw a man
hurrying down the streets in a thick dark peacoat heavy like the snow
upon rigid shoulders that have not seen sun since
the last time his daughter asked him to play in the sand.
She poked around his pockets for stale candy
and found a large hand and a tight squeeze.
His fingers now wind-chapped and dry
nuzzled deep into the small hole
that lost him a couple of keys and coins.
He turned the corner and we parted ways
and both of us shuffled across the slippery roads
forward and slow while accumulating freezing droplets of
rain from the edge of our noses and brows
until we melted clear into icicles
narrow dagging strips
on this cold day.